By Michael McMullan

DONEGAL hurlers were the story of last weekend with their victory over Kerry but Declan Coulter insists there is still work to do.

With two teams facing the drop, Donegal host Derry in the final game of the season and travel to promotion contenders Kildare on Sunday.

Their win over the Kingdom was Donegal’s first meeting with a Munster team since 1924. For Coulter, it was easy to summate. Massive. It brought confidence in getting rewards for their efforts.

There is still work to do, but, under Mickey McCann, Gabriel O’Kane and Shane Sweeney, the group are heading in the right direction.

McCann took over as manager in 2018. There has been steady progress. Promotion. Silverware. Games in Croke Park.

Before a ball was pucked in 2025, there was the realisation of the demands of Division Two. Conditioning needed ramped up.

“It’s a combination of lots of good work coming together at the right time,” Coulter said of the progress.

Some players have left the group for various seasons but a core of “seven or eight” players have remained. Hard dogs for the long road. They drive the standards. McCann has infused youth too.

“Younger lads have come into the panel every year,” he said. “The likes of Conor Gartland, Ruairi Campbell, Steven McBride, Liam McKinney.”

They know how to prepare. It keeps the older hands on their toes. If you want a starting jersey, you have to earn it.

Another factor is the spread of clubs through the team. No longer are they relying on Burt as the focal club.

“Lots of things coming together at the right time and it’s hard to look past talent too,” Coulter said, highlighting the impact the players from the bench made against Kerry. If you come on, you’ve got to add value.

McCann has been telling the squad, an indifferent first-half performance and players should be looking over their shoulder.

“If you’re coming on you have to put your shoulder to the wheel here and it’s up to you to take the jersey,” Coulter added.

They know what’s coming on Sunday. Coulter remembers their last day in Newbridge. Chastening. Kildare had 2-11 on the board after 15 minutes. It was a day of 15 on 15 and they’d take their chances.

“Mickey will have a better plan in place this time,” Coulter said. “At the same time, we didn’t perform as players.

“The game was gone and our boys’ heads dropped and they really gave us a good trimming.”

This weekend is about dipping into the Donegal mantra. Stay competitive. Be in the game. They should’ve taken at least a point from Meath.

“Against Down, bar a five-minute spell, they hit 2-2 or 2-3 before half time, there’s nothing in the games,” Coulter added.

It was the same with Kerry and they’ve a victory tucked away from the Tyrone game.

“We want to be competitive in all our games,” he emphasised. “That’s one thing we said from the start of the campaign.

“Be really, really hard to play against, be really hard to beat, be really hard to break down.”

Another aspect is clean sheets. Goals are Kryptonite when playing at this level.

“We need to be really aggressive, when you’re playing Kildare,” Coulter summed up of this weekend’s plans.

“They’re physically very strong and very athletic and you have to match that if you’re going to get anything out of the game.

“We’re under no illusions the quality that they have. Along with Down, they’re probably the two best teams in the competition.

“We have a free shot at it. There’s a two-week break and then the Derry game so we can go full tilt at it and not hold anything back.”