RORY GALLAGHER says he would prefer if Donegal could play all of their competitive games at Sean MacCumhaill Park in Ballybofey.
Given that his men are preparing for a home game, against Antrim, this summer in the Ulster Championship, Gallagher would like to maximise their use of the Ballybofey venue.
However, the Donegal manager ackowledges the practice of O’Donnell Park – which hosts this Sunday’s game against Kerry – and Fr Tierney Park, which will welcome Monaghan later in the Allianz League, being allowed to stage games.
Donegal have a proud record in Ballybofey, having not lost at the Finnside venue now in 15 League or Championship games.
“I am not going to deny that we would prefer to play in Ballybofey,” Gallagher said yesterday at a press conference.
“It is the rule in the county. We don’t dwell on it. We love playing in Ballybofey, we have a very good record in it over the last five/six years, likewise we have a brilliant record in Ballyshannon.
“It’s funny, teams think that you take them there deliberately, little do they know that it has nothing to do with the management.
“They (County Board) speak to you on it, they discuss it but ultimately it was a no-brainer that Dublin and Tyrone had to be in Ballybofey with the anticipated crowds.”
Donegal open their Allianz League campaign on Sunday against Kerry in Letterkenny – where they will hope to correct a poor sequence at the venue.
Since senior inter-county football returned to O’Donnell Park in 2007 – with a win over Kerry – Donegal have won just twice in 12 attempts.
Gall;agher said: “No, there have been a few dark days there but there is no reason for that. We train on it as much as anywhere with the exception of Ballybofey and Convoy as much as anywhere else, but we just have not delivered.
“We beat Monaghan there in 2014 but not only have we lost games there, we have lost them horribly, Laois, Roscommon last year, games where we have not turned up and performed which has been disappointing.
“We train on it and, with the exception of Convoy, we train on O’Donnell Park more than we train on MacCumhaill Park.
“We enjoy going to O’Donnell Park, but we don’t deliver on it.”
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