Donegal ready to end long wait

ULSTER SFC FINAL PREVIEW Donegal v Derry:Venue: Clones Time: Tomorrow, 4pm On TV: Live on TV3 & BBC 2

IT’S A coincidence that the first GAA Ulster football final in 13 years not to feature Armagh or Tyrone should bring together the 1998 finalists. Donegal have been the most frequent finalists apart from the governing duopoly since then but tomorrow sees Derry’s first return to the final since 2000.

The counties deserve their new status, as they defeated Armagh and Tyrone in the semi-finals, and have been the most improved sides in Ulster so far this season.

Derry have been hugely undermined by cruciate injuries with their best known forwards Paddy and Eoin Bradley both falling victim to the unsettlingly widespread complaint. Manager John Brennan has forged a steely collectivism in the team but there’s only so much adversity a side can take.

Jim McGuinness has also achieved a major transformation by turning Donegal into a hard grafting, defensive unit with enough stardust up front to threaten most opponents. The Donegal manager has at times been as defensive as his tactics but they are in a final and now favourites to land a first title in 19 years.

Reservations about the style mostly centre on the wisdom of bringing one of the game’s most luminous attacking talents, captain Michael Murphy, out the field to tussle for ball but he likes to be involved in the play and to date the tactical variations have worked.

Donegal have their own injury concerns with question marks over both centrefielders Rory Kavanagh and Kevin Rafferty. Kavanagh would be a big loss given the impact he made when the sides met in the league.

On that day in March neither Bradley was available and the fixture was decided by the inability of Derry to mark Murphy and Colm McFadden. The lessons of that won’t have been lost on Brennan but the team is short on reinforcements in the full-back line.

It’s thought unlikely however that Derry will play a sweeper dropping back that far although the wing forwards will presumably track back as required.

Even if Derry can sort out their defensive formation the question remains can they generate sufficient dynamism in centrefield, assuming Kavanagh and Rafferty play, to give their forwards a shot at producing a serviceable score.

Conleth Gilligan has been in terrific form this year and that certainly helped cover the loss of Paddy Bradley but with Eoin Bradley now gone as well, how realistic is it that one of the potential younger replacements – Cailean O’Boyle or Declan Mullen – can step up to the point that Donegal’s deep defences can be breached sufficiently to exert real pressure?

Will they have the ability to unpick a Donegal rearguard including experienced former All Stars Karl Lacey and Kevin Cassidy? Paddy Bradley made the point that under Brennan, the team is less prone to panic than it was when up against tight defences but this will be a big test of that composure.

DERRY: TBA

DONEGAL: TBA

Referee: M Deegan(Laois).

In the last episode: Two years ago, just as Derry looked to have generated some prospects in the qualifiers they ended up losing by a point to Donegal in extra time.

You bet: Donegal are favourites at 4/6, Derry 6/4 and the draw 15/2.

On your marks: Derry's defence will be under serious pressure. Apart from Murphy and McFadden, Paddy McBrearty and Mark McHugh bring freshness to the attack and the experienced Michael Hegarty adds to the footballing capability. If Donegal take an early grip it will be very hard to loosen.

Gaining ground: The counties' two most recent meetings were in Ballybofey but otherwise for the past 20 years the venue has been Clones, including three Ulster finals. This is Donegal's first Ulster final at Clones for nine years, as Croke Park hosted the 2004 and '06 finals against Armagh.

Just the ticket: Stand tickets (€27/£23, OAP €15/£13). Uncovered stand (€25/£21). Children (€5/£5). Terrace (€15/£13, students and OAPs €10/£9).

Crystal gazing: Donegal have progressed well all season and even without Derry's wretched luck with injuries, are entitled to be favourites.