By Michael McMullan

GARY McDaid is billing Sunday’s Ulster semi-final meeting Donegal and Cavan as a “revenge mission” after the Breffni County’s win in the 2020 decider.

The Glenswilly man was coachselector during Rory Gallagher’s tenure and feels that while the current management and players won’t openly say it, there is a feeling in the county of being “glad” to be facing Cavan on Sunday.

“It is very much a revenge mission for the Ulster final two years ago,” McDaid said.

“One of the primary reasons why they won that day was because they brought the fight and brought the war that Armagh didn’t bring.”

“They didn’t lay a glove on Donegal. They needed to make it a war and they didn’t even make it a battle.”

McDaid makes the comparison with Cavan coming in on the back of winning Ulster two years ago, successfully getting out of Division Four and “battering” Antrim both in physicality and football in the last round.

“There were people talking up Armagh and they didn’t bring it (their league form). I think Cavan will bring it,” McDaid said.

He rhymes off the core of their team. Raymond Galligan, Killian Clarke, Padraig Faulkner, Gearóid McKernan and Paddy Lynch.

“If Cavan want to be competitive in the game again (like 2020) they have to bring that war from even before the game starts right through to the final whistle,” he added.

“That’s a hell of spine both as footballers and physically. The other thing Cavan can bring is that they can be direct. They weren’t afraid to put into the box, long and at an angle,” McDaid said of their win over Antrim.

He also points to the rotation of midfielders Thomas Galligan and James Smith and who one would pop up alongside star forward Patrick Lynch in front of goal.

McDaid also suggests how Armagh’s only threat was the early ball into the Donegal defence that almost yielded a game-changing goal after half time.

“I am sure Cavan will have the video dissected and it is the one area they’ll think they can get at them (Donegal) with a ball quick and early, when it is one on one.

“They will bring that physicality and I read an interview where Stephen O’Neill said Antrim were battered off the pitch.

“It is important that they bring that physicality otherwise Donegal will go through the motions and get the job done to be in an Ulster final.”

Donegal used 32 players across the league, but as the championship came closer the team began to have a more familiar look about it.

Odhran McFadden-Ferry and Neil McGee both missed out through suspension. McGee made a brief blood substitute appearance against Armagh in the league, but McFadden-Ferry played in every game and there is a groundswell of expectation that he’ll start this weekend.

“It will be difficult to say who you’d take out of the team,” McDaid pointed out. “The defence was really good the last day. If they do bring him back in, which a lot of people expect, it is going to be a hard call on someone.”

On person definitely starting will be Brendan McCole who has made the number three jersey his own in the absence of McGee.

McDaid puts his progress down to a continued run of games the confidence it brought.

“There was a bit of pressure going in there to fill the boots of a three-time All-Star, an Ulster and All-Ireland winner,” he said.

“The talk on the street was about we do when Neil McGee is gone, I think that question no longer exists because Brendan McCole now has had a run of games and has the confidence.”

McCole has played at centre back and midfield at club level and for the county underage teams, but McDaid has seen him play more club football for St Naul’s at full-back.

“Pace is his number one asset and he feels he doesn’t have to mark tight, so therefore he is less likely to be in the eyes of the referee like a lot of defenders who are man handling and over the top of the forwards and umpires bringing it to the attention of the referee,” explains McDaid.

Rian O’Neill was one of the stars in league football. He didn’t score against Donegal and his limited possession was recycled in an attempt to pick open a space.

“Brendan is building a reputation across Ulster and there is a high degree of respect from Rian O’Neill, who never once took him on.

“It will be interested to see him against young Paddy Lynch. People in Donegal would never have heard of him before the game the last day (against Antrim).

“He might be coming in the opposite direction of Rian O’Neill, having not come across Brendan McCole before, coming in with no fear and will take him on.”