Meath manager Robbie Brennan has said ‘phenomenal’ Donegal is well suited to Croke Park.
The Royals are busy preparing for an All Ireland Semi-final clash with Donegal at HQ next Sunday.
At a press briefing at the weekend, Brennan admitted they got a sneak preview of Jim McGuinness’ side when they beat Louth in MacCumhaill Park last month.
“We were up in Ballybofey the previous week watching them against Louth, and possibly with the potential that we were getting them in the next round, obviously that’s what happened with the draw,” Brennan says.
“So, we were up there doing our homework I suppose and listen, they’re a phenomenal team, the athleticism, particularly in Croke Park, should really suit them”.
He said Donegal ‘probably looked a little tired’ in the first half of the quarter final against Monaghan when they went in seven points adrift at the break.
“Probably looked a little tired, I would have thought in the first half against Monaghan, even though Monaghan were exceptional. So yeah, plenty of work to do,” he said.
“They’re one of those teams where you, I’m not saying you absolutely know what they’re going to do, but you have a fair idea of what they’re going to do, but whether you can stop them or not.
“Their running game is exceptional, the loops they run and the forwards attack etc. So plenty to have to work on, but look, that gives us two weeks. We’ve been able to start looking at it already.
“Again, there’s a huge amount of experience in it and also sprinkled in some of the youth as well when you look at what they have at the back.
“But they’re so structured, like I’d say you could take out ten of them and put in another ten and the game plan doesn’t change, the athleticism doesn’t change.”
Michael Murphy’s enduring excellence also impresses Brennan. “You’ve got Michael Murphy up there ready to grab a hold of the game, he’s such an inspirational leader,” he added.
“Again, I’m probably watching him closely. We have a lot of Donegal connections up in Ardara and stuff like that with family and you’re always watching them from the outside.
“When you really start to focus in on that and see what Michael does, it is inspirational for them as a group.”
Brennan concluded he has no new injury concerns following their All-Ireland SFC Quarter-Final win over Galway two weeks ago.
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