Must-win game for Derry as they face Ulster champions Donegal

Allianz Football League  |  Donegal vs. Derry  |  Ballyshannon, Sunday, 1:45pm

Paddy Tally knows the extent of the task facing Derry this Sunday as they head to Ballyshannon needing to pull out a performance from somewhere given the challenging circumstances they now find themselves in.

After defeats against Tyrone and Kerry, the draw against Galway offered signs that the team was building some momentum and that points and performances would soon follow, but against Dublin at Croke Park, they were well beaten, and left the prospect of a relegation battle unless wins start to arrive immediately.

The next outing is a trip to Ballyshannon to take on Ulster champions Donegal who took out the last three All-Ireland champions in their opening three games.

It’s a dress rehearsal of the sides’ Ulster Preliminary Round lash in Ballybofey in early April. It is essentially a must win game if Derry are to reach the six points tally in a bid to beat the drop.

“It's a challenge for us all,” Tally said. “Everybody in that group has to really get back up again, and this is going to be tough, because it's going to be a hard one to digest after that.

“We have to pick out through the bones and see what was good, what worked for us, and we know that next week we go to Ballyshannon and it's going to be really difficult.

“Donegal are on the crest of a wave at the moment but we need the points. We really do need the points at this stage, so we need a performance next week, and I'd like to think that there'll be a kick in the team.”

Donegal go into the game on the back of defeat to Galway by seven points last Sunday in a hurricane in Salthill and former Donegal player, Matt Gallagher, believes Jim McGuiness' side will be in for a challenge.

“They turned the game around (against Galway) and their midfield of Conor Glass and big Anton Tohill, they broke a lot of ball and Derry picked up and were very aggressive and really should have won the game. Again Shane Walsh came to the rescue for Galway.

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“I’m expecting a tough battle. The supporters might be over thinking this game more than the managers. I don’t think it’s going to have a huge bearing on the championship match (which is on April 6th).

“Championship matches are always different. For championship matches you would be hoping to have everybody fit; you might take a chance on a fella that is 75% fit whereas on Sunday Donegal won’t be taking that risk anyway. You would think that another point on the table would leave them safe.

“Derry will be desperate after winning the league title last year to stay in Division 1. They will be fighting for survival now. That’s going to be a big factor.

“When Lachlann Murray came on for Derry in the second half against Galway they looked impressive especially when they ran direct,” said Gallagher.

The Naomh Brid man was full-back when Donegal and Derry met in Ballyshannon and the result of that game (0-11 to 0-3 in favour of Donegal) saw Derry relegated to Division 2. Around that time there was a very healthy rivalry between the two counties.

Derry and Donegal's meeting at Celtic Park last April saw Jim McGuinness secure an emphatic victory. (Photo: Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile)

“There was rivalry. Sometimes it wasn’t that healthy. Obviously, sometimes you will be looking at what you could do in the championship match down the road, but I think at the minute it’s just a one off game.

“I would like to see Donegal put out a strong side and establish themselves. If you can keep beating a team, it leads to a winning mentality. For a while there we couldn’t beat Derry and now we are beating them. It was the same with Armagh. I’m not being negative or derogatory towards those teams. You like to keep that dominance going if you can.

“But I don’t expect anything but a tough battle from Derry. They have won two All-Ireland minor titles and they are always competing well at U-20 level. They are bound to have some pedigree coming.

“They have to get the scoring load off Shane McGuigan, who is a fantastic player. If they can do that they will be a force. Two pointers are now crucial; we didn’t kick enough of them on Sunday,” said Gallagher.