Sunday wouldn't be a must win game if we had shown any ability to get over the line in big games in the past few years, but we haven't done that so we have to start getting those meaningful wins somewhere and build from there. It's a test of mentality in the group on whether they can get over the line when they face a stern test, where each team is in their preparation for later stages is almost irrelevant.
The Donegal Fermanagh game was a really low quality game by both sides. The result looks like Donegal hammered them, but it was far from the unequivocal tanking we dished out to Kildare. Fermanagh basically gave up after they conceded that first long distance goal, which was of their own making rather than any creative play from Donegal, but were well in the game up to that point. Similar for Donegal's second which secured a big win, that was more about Fermanagh's mistakes than good Donegal play. You'd have to expect a more serious Donegal will show up on Sunday, but there wasn't much to be worried about from Donegal in that game. Even tactically they weren't particularly well organised, struggled to get through Fermanagh's defence and really relied on Fermanagh making more mistakes than they did plus some better quality players to get the win. Gallen at 14 is a great player, whoever picks him up has a job on their hands.
They haven't done the aggressive hard press since the Cork game, McGuinness said they couldn't because the Fermanagh goalkeeper is an outfielder so was comfortable on the ball. That sounds like bollocks because they never tried it. Would have to expect they'll bring that hard press to us as their biggest test ahead of Derry in Ulster, and it could find success as we can struggle on kickouts and Blaine won't be as comfortable on the ball as some other intercounty goalkeepers. We'll be stuck for midfield targets if Crealy is out. Murnin can come up for them, but one target can be defended easier so we need a couple more.
I hope they do bring that press to be honest, surely a competent, ball playing defence should be able to play around them and make them run like dogs, and I'd like to see how our lads handle it. Most of our defence has been on the scene for a while so should be comfortable under a bit of pressure, with Forker capable of playing decent kick passes to the forwards to beat the press. McGrane is the newest member and he's shown he's comfortable on the ball so no real signs of worry there. This will be a good test for Turbitt Conaty McConville in the forwards as it will likely be the best defence we face in the league. If they can find a way to get enough scores to secure the win then they'll start to turn themselves into important players for us ahead of the ulster championship, which adds a dynamic to our attack that we've lacked in recent times.