Derry can beat Donegal - Here's how!

Ulster Senior Championship

Derry vs. Donegal

7pm, St. Tiernach’s Park, Clones

Can Derry do it? That is what everyone is asking ahead of this evening’s huge game at Clones.

Both Tyrone and Monaghan have made Donegal look almost human in recent times, and Derry would do well to take a leaf from their books as they head into tonight’s Ulster Senior Championship. Physicality, fitness, athleticism, discipline and a fine balance between defence and attack – these factors all matter and how Derry address each could determine the game against the ‘best team in Ireland’.

Derry must also learn lessons from previous games with Donegal.

In the opening 35 minutes at Celtic Park last May, Derry were patient in their build up. They bordered on laboured at times, with their lack of penetrating runners preventing them from building a bigger half-time advantage.

Donegal made them pay for that in the ten minutes after the break.

In the 2011 Ulster final at Clones, on the big pitch, Derry found joy in the quick switch of the play from one wing to the other. They found shooters in space and only for some poor finishing, they could have been ahead before Michael Murphy blasted home a crucial, but controversial penalty.

The attacking side of Derry’s game is key. For while many praise Donegal’s defensive phalanx, it was the attacking improvements they made between 2011 and 2012 that won them the All-Ireland.

Donegal are favourites and with good reason, but if they cough up the goal chances they did against Tyrone recently, and if Derry can take at least one of them, there Is a chance.