Mac's View: Time for talking is over - best of luck to Donegal in Celtic Park

The time has arrived. The time for talking is over and there probably has been plenty done in both camps over the last week or so. First of all I want to wish Jim and his management team and the players all the best.

I’m really looking forward to this game in Celtic Park on Saturday evening. There will be a full house with all the tickets gone. It is the game everyone is talking about, not just in Donegal and Derry, but all over the country.

There aren’t many games like that now in the present championship, but the clash of two heavyweight teams and two heavyweight managers in Jim McGuinness and Mickey Harte is a very big affair.

The bookies have Derry odds on favourites and I am delighted with that. And it is also to be expected. Derry were operating in Division 1 and are going for their third Ulster title in-a-row.

For me, looking at Donegal, a lot will depend on who is fit and who is not. It will be hammer and tongs in the opening quarter and it will be no place for any player who is not 100 per cent fit. Indeed, I would not risk any players in that regard as this will be no place for the faint hearted.

We cannot give them too much respect. Even those players that are returning, if we had them on the bench for the last quarter, they could make a real difference.

We know where their strengths are. They have a very good midfield pairing. Will he use Hugh McFadden from the start and let him empty the tank? Celtic Park is not the biggest ground. We have plenty of big men around that area with a diamond of Caolan McGonagle, Jason McGee, Michael Langan, McFadden and Ciaran Thompson.

We have to watch the runs from defence and we saw in the league final that Eoin McEvoy is a new Derry weapon. Donegal have to deal with that. I remember when Cavan played Derry in the 1997 Ulster final when the Wee Man was in charge, he put Ronan Carolan on Henry Downey and he wrecked him with scores. A loose centre-half-back can be exploited.

We have to keep an eye on the corner-back McCluskey and we also have to look after full-forward Shane McGuigan, who is a very tricky operator. We will just have to defend on the front foot.

Derry are a good side but we know that. But only a few years ago we had them beaten in Clones. We’re in a better place now. They have gained experience but they can only play 15.

We know their strengths but Jim will have his homework done. I don’t know what game plan he will go with but you can be assured that he will be ready.

There is a good bond there now in the team and they will be well prepared for it.

One of the big differences from my day was we picked the team on the Tuesday night and the supporters knew by Thursday when the papers came out. I always wanted the players to know early in the week. It was part of the build-up. Nowadays, the starting team is not released until the last hour although the panel of 26 are named on Friday.

One of the most important things for Saturday evening is the level of Donegal support and they should try to group together to be vocal, especially when the team needs it most

We just have to put our best foot forward and bring our A game. I’m aware of the Jim factor and he has it over Mickey Harte from the past. David Gough is down to referee the game and he is one of the best around.

Celtic Park will be a real cauldron, so get there early and group together. We must pay them respect but go at them from the throw-in. We must empty the tank and then we must empty the bench, we have the players in the panel who can finish the job.

The forecast is for the weather to improve, which is good and I’m looking forward to it.

GOOD WEEKEND FOR DONEGAL

Last weekend was a very good weekend for Donegal teams with the hurlers, minor and U-20 footballers all winning their championship games. The hurlers beat Armagh and face Mayo in Letterkenny on Saturday. Good luck to them.

The U-20 footballers also beat Armagh and are through to the Ulster semi-final, while the minor footballers overcame Tyrone in Ballyshannon, a first championship win over Tyrone since 2015. Congratulations to all involved.

Finally this week, my condolences to the McCauley family, Belleek on the sudden passing of Patsy McCauley, a lovely man. He worked with us in the Great Northern Hotel and he had a great personality on busy nights. He was widely known through the golfing world and also through his business as a Funeral Undertaker. May he rest in peace.

Brian McEniff was in conversation with Peter Campbell