Donegal to provide the toughest test
NFL DIV 2 PREVIEW
FERGAL LYNCH
Regarded as the toughest game of their NFL Div 2 campaign Meath will travel to Ballybofey for Saturday night's clash with Donegal off the back of an opening round victory over Tipperary.
Meath manager Andy McEntee was at pains to insist after Sunday's win over Tipperary that every game in Div 2 will be tough, but he did admit that his side will travel north with a little extra pep in their step.
“We have to try to go up to Ballybofey next Saturday and get a result, which not
many teams manage to do whether it's in Div 1 or Div 2,” McEntee told the Meath Chronicle.
“Although in saying that it is better to be going up there on the back of a win. Winning makes it a little bit easier.
“Well it's definitely the toughest one next weekend! They're all tough. You could see it out there (against Tipperary), they are all tough games.
“I suppose on paper, people would say that going up to Ballybofey to play Donegal is a tough assignment alright.”
Results went Meath's way on opening weekend with two of the games finishing level and Donegal scraping a narrow victory over Clare in Ennis, so was McEntee happy that six teams in the division have already dropped points?
“Is half full or half empty? There are also four teams with one point on the board. The truth of the matter is that it comes down to us and how we perform against all those teams.
“It just goes to show how tight the division is likely to be. We have two draws today and Donegal had it tight enough against Clare.
“They are all do-or-die games. Every game in this group is tough. I was talking to Liam (Kearns) before the game and he was saying that with the teams that came down and the teams that came up that this is definitely the strongest Div 2 in the last three years, so every two points is a vital two points.”
Feared because of their impressive Ulster SFC success last year, because they reached the Super 8s and because they were until last spring a Div 1 team Donegal will be odds-on favourites to get the better of Meath next Saturday.
However, Meath's last trip to Ballybofey almost saw the Royals bag a surprise win before Donegal scrambled a draw. When the teams met in the All-Ireland SFC qualifiers in 2017 the Ulster side scraped a one-point victory.
Next Saturday Donegal will be without Michael Murphy after he underwent knee surgery.
Donegal manager Declan Bonner is already without the seven members of his squad as Gaoth Dobhair prepare for an All-Ireland club semi-final, while Patrick McBrearty, Frank McGlynn, Paddy McGrath and Leo McLoone are all working their way back to full fitness.
There was more positive news with regards to Ryan McHugh who is expected to be available.