By Michael McMullan

IF Ulster champions Donegal are to keep their hands on the Anglo Celt Cup, they must travel the hard route.

They have been drawn in the preliminary round and face their neighbours Derry on Sunday. The prize for the winners is a quarter-final clash with a Monaghan team who’ve gained momentum on their way back to Division One.

Donegal got an immediate bounce from the return of Jim McGuinness last year. Promotion. The Division Two title in Croke Park. A magical Ulster final triumph in Clones.

They were a whisker from toppling a Galway team that danced all the way to the dying embers of the All-Ireland final. Close but no cigar.

If their opponents on Sunday are struggling depth, Donegal are the opposite. Armagh proved last season that the next five players after the starting team hold significant value.

Michael Murphy’s return has been massive on so many fronts. His leadership and experience. Imagine the younger players learning from him.

He wasn’t on the field against Armagh until he had the ball over the bar. Three points after his layoff.

Against Derry, he made three goal chances with Shane O’Donnell nailing the goal that made all the difference.

McGuinness’s additions don’t end there. Conor O’Donnell’s pace. Eoin McHugh and Eoghan McGettigan are attacking additions to the overall package.

Finbarr Roarty is a year older and has a lengthy career ahead of him. There is the renaissance of Odhrán McFadden-Ferry.

When Eoghan Bán Gallagher was forced off in last summer’s semi-final defeat to Galway, McGuinness robbed Peter to pay Paul.

Shane O’Donnell dropped back to plug a hole. You get the feeling that won’t happen this year. There is more around the edges.

Michael Langan has made a return and we’ll wait to see how far on he is. Jason McGee, their other man mountain from last summer, is still on his way back.

Patrick McBrearty is playing a waiting game after showing some razor sharp moves earlier in the league.

Shaun Patton has the kick-out many other teams don’t have. The dart to the wing. The 40-metre arc will crucify the teams with a hanging kick-out. Not Donegal. Any sort of breeze at their back and Donegal have the tools to make opponents sit tight. Just ask Jim Gavin about 2014.

Defensively, Donegal’s 2025 model looks much the same. They are using the shuffling cover to keep players away from the two-point kicking parish.

It’s Donegal’s pace that leaves them potent going the other way. Shane and Conor O’Donnell. Ryan McHugh. Ciarán Moore. McBrearty’s first-half point against Armagh in the league was the perfect example.

With Murphy back, does it bring a kicking game to the table? It’s hard to tell. We’ll know on Sunday. Or will it not arrive until the All-Ireland series.

It’s hard to see Donegal taking their new toys out just yet. If they have any. That’s the intrigue that surrounds Donegal. It’s what brings the extra interest.

Kerry, Dublin, Armagh, Mayo, Galway and Donegal. In no particular order, these are the teams well in the race for the All-Ireland. You can make a case for them all. Throw in Tyrone and Monaghan.

Donegal will have it in the back of their mind. Ulster comes first. It always does. The raw emotion on the pitch after last year’s final told it all. Like the homecoming in Donegal Town. Also, McGuinness has always maintained the front door route, as provincial champions, is the preferred route.

It starts in Ballybofey. Without any league final to prepare for, you can picture the Donegal squad camped up somewhere last weekend putting their pieces together. It’s best foot forward time. It was always about Ballybofey.

Roll of honour:

11 (1972, 1974, 1983, 1990, 1992, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2018, 2019, 2024)

Memorable Ulster Championship match

Ulster Championship final 2011

Donegal 1-11 Derry 0-8

Sunday July 17, 2011

A SECOND half penalty from captain Michael Murphy shot Donegal to a first Ulster title since 1992. The sides were level at half-time,0-5 each, but Donegal’s season under Jim McGuinness was one of momentum and there were joyous scenes as the Anglo Celt Cup returned to Donegal Town. Derry lost Eoin Bradley to a cruciate injury the previous week – joining injured brother Paddy – and weren’t able to ask Donegal any serious questions. The winners shot out of the blocks early with points from Colm McFadden and Anthony Thompson and Donegal were able to engineer the scores to ease to glory.

Wild card: Conor O’Donnell

MICHAEL Murphy is back. Finbarr Roarty is coming in as a youngster but perhaps Conor O’Donnell is the player to watch. His pace is frightening and can play two roles. There is the inside forward option to take on defenders in space. The other is a runner – like Shane O’Donnell – to make the second run to support anything the inside line. The Carndonagh man was their main scorer from play a couple of seasons ago and after his return from injury he offers Donegal a varied option.

Captain: Patrick McBrearty

THE Kilcar man was sprung from the bench for his senior debut in the 2011 Ulster Championship after scoring 1-3 in the minor game earlier in the day. McBrearty has had his share of injury worries and missed parts of the league. He was used as an impact man last season but looked sharp when in action. He kicked some lovely scores against Armagh and with the new-look rules offering more space, his left foot weapon, kicking on the loop, will draw defenders to the edge of the arc and open the door for others.

Manager: Jim McGuinness

AN All-Ireland winner as player in 1992, McGuinness was the master behind their second coming of Sam 20 years later. Now, in his second stint, he has brought everyone under his wing. After making 11 changes fof their Tyrone league game, the performance of their so called second team proved the depth McGuinness has to hand.