DONEGAL v ANTRIM:IT WOULD have suited Antrim had this tie been fixed for three weeks ago. The fine run of form that saw them promoted from Division Four is bound to have stalled somewhat.
The oppressive weight of form and general expectation dictates that Antrim should prove feisty, but ultimately manageable, opposition for Donegal, a team who have operated with varying degrees of comfort on a tier above that of Antrim.
However, some are reading into this game the scenario that Antrim are improving at a rate of knots while the same rather large questions marks hang over the state of football in the north west.
The axing of the talented Antrim forward CJ McGourty for a breach of discipline demonstrated the seriousness with which manager Liam Bradley has taken to the post.
He has shaped a young squad rich in collegiate honours and who followed on last summer’s success in the recently abolished Tommy Murphy Cup with an impressive league run.
Donegal have a new manager who was serenely indifferent to his team’s plummeting league stock and who seems to have cobbled together a potentially strong 15 with perfect timing.
They may be ring rusty – the last time the midfielders lined out together was against Cork in 2006 – but this game represents an ideal chance for Donegal to start their Ulster campaign brightly and restore some much-needed confidence and the element of fearlessness that has been missing from their game.
ANTRIM:S McGreevy; C Brady, A McLean, D McCann; T Scullion, J Crozier, J Loughrey; M McCann. A Gallagher; T O'Neill. K Brady, N McKeever; P Cunningham, S Burke, T McCann.
DONEGAL:P Durcan; E McGee, N McGee, K Lacey; B Dunnion, K Cassidy, M McGuire; N Gallagher, B Boyle; C Bonner, M Hegarty, R Kavanagh; C McFadden, M Murphy, C Dunne.
Referee:D Kirwan (Cork).
In the last episode:Antrim visited Ballybofey five summers ago and acquitted themselves fairly well in a game that Donegal finally won by 1-15 to 1-9. Afterwards, Antrim had a long wait until the first round of the qualifiers, when Louth eliminated them, 2-13 to 0-14.
On your marks:Colm McFadden catapulted himself into the first rank of forwards with a virtuoso display in 2004, when he scored 1-7 against All-Ireland champions Tyrone.
Injured for much of this year’s league, the return of McFadden to the Donegal starting line-up gives the attacking six a heavyweight look.
Donegal have stated their ambition to challenge for honours this year – a score-greedy and accurate forward line will be a must if they are to do so.
You bet:The odds are overwhelmingly titled in favour of the home team.
Donegal are at 1/5. Antrim are quoted at 9/2. A drawn match is available at 10/1.
Gaining ground:The ground has been subject to a spring renovation that has increased the capacity to 20,000.
Just the ticket:Admission to the stand is by ticket only – they cost €25 each, with OAPs paying €15. Terrace admission is pay at the turnstile and is free for under-16s.
Crystal gazing:An away win for Antrim would be a huge breakthrough for the quiet work that Liam Bradley has been getting through. If the Donegal back six are jittery and Antrim start at a gallop, the match could turn unpredictable.
But this is a potentially formidable Donegal 15 and their credibility will be in tatters if they trip up at this hurdle. Home win.
