The Donegal County Board are anticipating a crowd of around 13,000 at Sean MacCumhaill Park for Sunday’s Allianz League tussle between Donegal and Dublin.
If recent history tells us anything, it is that the meeting should provide plenty of talking points.
Rarely have their jousts been without incident of late – and Sunday promises to be no different.
Both counties come into the game boasting proud records of a differnent sort – but, barring a draw, something has to give by the Finn.
While Dublin are on a 31-game unbeaten streak in League or Championship football – a sequence that stretches back to March 2015 – Donegal haven’t lost in their last 15 League or Championship matches in Ballybofey.
Rory Gallagher, the Donegal manager, recently stated his belief that all games should be played at MacCumhaill Park, but it is policy in the county to share the League games, with Fr Tierney Park and O’Donnell Park also getting to host a fixture.
Ballybofey, though, is ‘home’ – and Donegal are eager to defend their solid record at the venue this weekend.
“We really, really enjoy playing there,” Gallagher said.
“The crowd’s brilliant, there’s great surroundings, it’s a beautiful pitch.
“We very much enjoy the connection with the supporters and the way they get behind you in Ballybofey.
“We love playing on our own home patch, no more than the Dubs in Croke Park, which at the end of the day, is their home now, as they have played all their league games and the majority of their championship games there over the last couple of years.
“To the outside world, yes, people think you have nothing to lose playing Dublin, and that’s the way it is for most teams – but we have a very proud record in Ballybofey and we haven’t lost here since 2010. “
Donegal will again host a Championship game in Ballybofey this year with Antrim to roll into the Twin Towns on May 21.
Donegal will also face Tyrone there in the League next month. Gallagher’s men trained at MacCumhaill Park for the first time in 2017 this week – and the Donegal boss feels a different aura.
He said: “We get in there to train this week for the first time this year as well, and that builds the excitement as well.
“That might be a small thing, but to the players who love playing football and love playing for Donegal, getting to Ballybofey is something special.
“You know you’re going to have a championship day there and getting out to train on it will be good.”
After an opening day loss, Donegal – who will be without Patrick McBrearty because of injury this Sunday – defeated Roscommon in their last encounter.
This weekend is an acid test for a new Donegal that is down nine of last year’s squad.
Gallagher said: “I don’t see it as any different – the pressure that we put on ourselves will be the same as every other week in this competition.
“We want to put our best foot forward and the pressure comes from within. We want to deliver and test ourselves against the best teams in the country.
“And this week we’re playing without a shadow of doubt the best team in the country.
“They’ve won four All-Irelands in the last six years and they have been the most dominant team in this era.”
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