Dec won’t go Down that route
Donegal Down Ulster SFC s-final, Clones 4pm
v DECLAN BONNER will resist the temptation to recall any of the Donegal U20 players into his senior squad for Sunday’s Ulster semi-final with Down.
Jason Mcgee and Niall O’donnell were part of the highly-rated underage side beaten by Derry last Sunday, so are now available to the seniors.
Both would be welcome additions and are in form, but Bonner ruled the pair out for the clash with the Mourne men.
“We’ll see what’s going on down the line,” he said.
“We need to give those guys a chance to get over Sunday.”
Injured trio Martin Mcelhinney, Martin O’reilly and Nathan Mullins will also miss out at Clones.
“This week will be too early. They’re not far away, but the games are coming so thick and so fast, it’s difficult to get them back in,” said Bonner.
“Anthony Thompson missed a couple of weeks but he’s back in training and Stephen Mcbrearty has a niggle. It’s just wait and see with him.”
Bonner took charge this year and has introduced a more attacking game after the cautious set-up under Rory Gallagher.
A win on Sunday would see him face his predecessor in the Ulster final, with Gallagher’s Fermanagh having pulled off a defensive masterstroke in beating Monaghan last weekend.
Bonner added: “It (defensive style) is part and parcel of the game and it’ll happen all over the summer.
“All the commentators will talk about it, but there is no rule in the book to say you can’t play like that.”