By Niall McCoy

FORMER Mayo attacker Andy Moran believes that Donegal are slightly ahead of Tyrone currently in the race to end Dublin’s dominance.

The two-time All-Star will be heading to Ballybofey on Saturday night to watch the teams as part of eir Sport’s punditry team, and he believes that the Tir Chonaill county are probably that wee bit happier with their progress despite being a point behind the Red Hands in the Division One table.

“I think Donegal have been really good,” said Moran, who was speaking as a brand ambassador as McKeever Sport’s announced that they had secured the official GAA license.

“If you look at what they have done, they probably should have beaten us in the first game, we can all kind of admit that.

“They were well up against Galway in the third or fourth game so they could have been in a way higher area.

“(Michael) Murphy is playing exceptional football, Ryan McHugh seems to be back to his best. If they get (Paddy) McBrearty back, (Shaun) Patton is playing really well even though he had that mistake against Dublin.

“They’re exciting, I’d probably put them a tiny bit ahead of Tyrone.”

Moran feels that Mickey Harte’s side can never be written off though, and he feels that they are already confounding their critics with some notable victories.

“In terms of where they are at, people are on about Tyrone and that they’re fading away. Yes they had a very bad result against Galway but they have beaten Kerry and Dublin now all of a sudden.

“Yes (they were) in storms and bad weather but they have beaten them, and psychologically that’s huge.”

Moran also believes that we are in store for an excellent Ulster Championship, with the provincial tournament due to throw-in with the meeting of Monaghan and Cavan on May 10.

“You look at that Ulster Championship this year,” he said.

“Armagh are so exciting, Monaghan with their new management team are doing really well.

“Tyrone beating Dublin and Kerry along the way the league and Donegal the double Ulster champions. It’s an exciting Ulster Championship this year.”

n.mccoy@gaeliclife.com