DECLAN Bonner admitted that the Division 1 semi-final against Dublin wasn’t a high priority – but this evening’s game served a useful purpose for the Donegal manager.
That match being on the horizon and the fact that there wasn’t going to be a League final meant that the sting was taken from this game before it threw in.
“It was great for a lot of lads to get on and play against a side of the calibre of Dublin,” Bonner said.
“It was a real test against Dublin, who will never give you too many opportunities.
“It’s been a really good League and the four games will stand by us as we head to Newry.
“The edge was missing from it with there being no League final, but we are two weeks out from the Championship. Once we got the Armagh game over, the Championship had to be the priority.”
Paddy Small netted Dublin’s goal in the 30th minute and it proved to be the key score with Eoghan McGettigan’s late goal at the other end proving to be just a consolation.
Bonner felt that Michael Langan was fouled in the lead-up to Small’s goal.
He said: “It was high enough up the field that we should have defended it a bit better.
“We got a lot of lads on the pitch and the league has been very beneficial from that point of view. It was important to get the likes of Odhrán McFadden-Ferry and Jason McGee minutes.”
Listen to the full interview below …
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