Deck is stacked against Gallagher
MAYBE it was written in the stars. When Rory Gallagher teamed up with his native Fermanagh not long after leaving Donegal, perhaps we should have seen this Ulster final pairing coming.
Gallagher’s connection with Donegal adds an extra element to Sunday’s clash in Clones.
That edge was apparent from early in the build-up to Sunday’s clash with reports that Donegal journalists weren’t allowed to attend Fermanagh’s media night. Whatever the truth of that, there will be no love lost between the sides.
The game will also give us a great contrast in styles. We can be fairly certain what Fermanagh will bring to St Tiernach’s Park.
They will be organised and diligent and look to survive by playing on the break and winning frees.
And we know that Donegal under Declan Bonner prefer to play on the front foot. It’s an approach that has seen them deliver some swashbuckling displays.
That change in style has been a significant one for Donegal. It was a brave move, especially considering the success their way of playing over the last few years has brought them.
The safe option would have been to stick with the status quo but Bonner put his own stamp on it. I think it has paid off and has breathed new life into them, especially their captain Michael Murphy (right).
The extent of Murphy’s talent has been something of a problem for Donegal in so far as he’s so comfortable both out around the middle and near the goals that Donegal have been trying to get him to play both roles.
And, to a large extent, he’s been able to do that through a combination of an iron will and the delicate, silky stuff that he has in his locker too.
From centre field, his game management outstrips almost anyone on the island.
He can control the tempo of things and dictate the play. Close to goal, he’s an obvious threat, and with the right service, close to unstoppable.
Since he has come in, Bonner has let him spend more time closer to goal and I think he’s revelling in it. He’s kicked 0-13 so far in the Championship and generally looks like a player who is enjoying his football.
He’s been well managed too. He’s only 28 and in his prime but he has a lot of hard miles on the clock. So this year he came back a little later in the league and looks to be timing his run nicely for the Championship.
While Murphy was resting, Donegal’s young players were left to figure things out for themselves. I know Donegal were relegated but that experience will only stand to them in the long-term.
So any plan Fermanagh have to topple Donegal will have to start with curbing Murphy.
Tyrone did that well in the Ulster Championship last year. Paudie Hampsey trailed him wherever he went but he had plenty of help. Fermanagh might ask Che Cullen to track him given the excellent job he did on Conor McManus in the Monaghan game, but Murphy is a much different proposition.
He’ll go roaming rather than stay inside where McManus does his best work.
Of course, Gallagher will know these Donegal players inside out. And he’ll have the Fermanagh men briefed on all the little things he picked up on Donegal over the course of his time with them.
And while the significance of that can be overstated, it will certainly give them an edge.
But that’s about the only area I can see where the Ernemen have an advantage.
After that, the deck is stacked firmly in favour of Donegal because no matter what way you slice it, they have the edge. They are a bigger county with a deeper panel and more talent at their disposal. They have more big game experience, with Donegal contesting six of the last seven Ulster finals, while their dressing room still has a healthy smattering of All-Ireland winners from 2012. Conversely, Fermanagh have never won an Ulster title.
There’s a chasm in terms of the under-age system the players have come through, too.
From working with the Tyrone Under-21s, I can attest to the quality of the young players Donegal have coming through. Meanwhile, Fermanagh’s youngsters are fortunate if they manage to win a game at under-age level.
Form is on their side too. If you were to have a conversation about the Footballer of the Year right now, Murphy, Paddy McBrearty and Ryan McHugh would be in the mix.
Those three are at the peak of their powers, operating at a level very few players on the island can claim to be. And I’d have Eoghan Ban Gallagher and Jamie Brennan in the running for the Young Player award too.
When you crunch the numbers, it doesn’t give Fermanagh any encouragement either.
Donegal have played three games to Fermanagh’s two in the Ulster Championship. And Bonner’s men have scored an average of 2-19 across those matches, while Fermanagh have hit just 1-8 in their two outings.
A lot depends on how Donegal approach the game. Bonner has the big calls to make in terms of how they set up.
He has the cards, everything is in his favour. The pressure is on him now to set up the right way to get the job done.
Against Derry, there were signs of them going back to the style of play they learned under Jim McGuinness.
But I expect them to go after Fermanagh from the off on Sunday.