Donegal senior hurling manager Ardal McDermott expects his team to grasp the chance in Saturday’s Allianz Hurling League Division 3A final against Tyrone (Celtic Park, 2pm).
Donegal, Tyrone and Monaghan all finished level on eight points, but Donegal and Tyrone advanced to the decider on score difference.
Relegated from Division 2B last year, Donegal are keen to get back on the promotion bus again; a chance that will present itself in the form of a play-off if they capture the title on Saturday.
The final had originally been pencilled in for Carrick-on-Shannon, but the more sensible option of Celtic Park has since been chosen.
Donegal lost 14 players from their 2016 panel for a variety of reasons, but additions such as Declan Coulter, a former Armagh All-Star, and Tipperary native Davin Flynn, have made the changing of the guard a seamless move.
“We said that we were a team in transition, but we focussed on performances and we knew that we wouldn’t be far away from the League final if we played how we could,” McDermott told Donegal Daily.
“It might have be more difficult than we’d have hoped, but we’ve managed to get to the League final.
“The final is there to be won. This is where you want to be. You want the pressure of the big occasion. We’re looking forward to it. It’s chance to show off the work that we’ve put in.
“I don’t think we’ll be found wanting at the weekend.”
Donegal won 2-14 to 0-15 when the teams met at O’Donnell Park, while Tyrone won the corresponding fixture by two points, 1-12 to 1-10, at Garvaghey.
Listen to the full interview below …
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