Domegal senior football manager Declan Bonner
DECLAN Bonner believes Derry will give his Donegal side a much more “difficult match” this Sunday, May 27 than summoned up by Cavan in the Ulster Senior Football Championship opener (throw in 4 pm at Celtic Park).
Bonner says Derry’s shock relegation to Division Four of the Football League in the Spring is not a true reflection of the Oak Leafers’ capabilities.
“I wouldn’t be looking too much into what happened in the National League,” says Bonner.
“The Slaughtneil boys and Sean Leo McGoldrick are all back.
“You could have anything up to seven or eight players (back). The likes of Mark Lynch and James Kielt didn’t play much league football.
“It’s going to be a strong Derry side and we’re expecting a difficult match on Sunday.”
Slaughtneil brothers Chrissy and Karl McKaigue and their club-mate Brendan Rogers are all expected to start for Derry at Celtic Park after missing most of the League because of the Emmets’ involvement in the All-Ireland Club series in both football and hurling.
“Derry will ring a fair degree of physicality. They have some very, very good footballers,” added Bonner.
“They will be hurting from the National League.
“There’s no doubt about that even though a lot of them won’t have played in the league,” added Bonner.
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