{"id":360679,"date":"2026-03-23T09:37:07","date_gmt":"2026-03-23T09:37:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/360679\/"},"modified":"2026-03-23T09:37:07","modified_gmt":"2026-03-23T09:37:07","slug":"donegals-defensive-decisions-key-to-decider","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/360679\/","title":{"rendered":"Donegal’s defensive decisions key to decider"},"content":{"rendered":"

The vast expanse of the Croke Park playing surface will test the case for Donegal’s defence in next week’s Allianz League Division 1 final, according to former Kerry boss \u00c9amonn Fitzmaurice.<\/p>\n

Donegal did a number on the Kingdom in the second round of their league campaign with a comfortable four-point win<\/a> on the first day of February.<\/p>\n

In the tighter surrounds of Fr Tierney Park, Ballyshannon, Jim McGuinness’s side were able to put the clamps on a Kerry forward unit who were always generally within arm’s reach. But Fitzmaurice wonders if they’ll be able to keep such a close eye on David Clifford, Seanie O’Shea and Co at Headquarters.<\/p>\n

How will Donegal defend against Kerry in Croke Park? And will both Donegal and Kerry go with strong teams for the Division 1 final?#rtegaa<\/a> #allianzfootballleague<\/a> #leaguesunday<\/a>
\ud83d\udcfa Watch: @RTE2<\/a> | https:\/\/t.co\/hzPmwWbTTe<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/I7b5x3eQSW<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 RT\u00c9 GAA (@RTEgaa) March 22, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Speaking on Allianz League Sunday, Fitzmaurice said: “It’s all positive for both teams. Anytime you get to play a game in Croke Park, it’s an opportunity to grab. Both teams have four weeks to their championship games, both teams are heading overseas for a pre-championship training camps after the final, so it’s set up for a cracker.<\/p>\n

“The second-round game in Ballyshannon that Donegal won fairly handily, even though it was only four points in the end. What I’ll be curious about is how Donegal defend against Kerry in Croke Park this time.<\/p>\n

“What are the little changes they’ll make? They definitely made changes earlier in the league where they were defending a bit higher, more aggressive – are they going to bring that to Croke Park next weekend?<\/p>\n

“It’s a great opportunity to test it in the openness of Croke Park and see will it make a difference the way Kerry are attacking at the moment.”<\/p>\n

His fellow panellist Peter Canavan was keen to see both sides go all out for victory in next Sunday’s decider. No shadow-boxing for this major final, please.<\/p>\n

“It’s so strange for such an important competition – or it used to be – where we have managers in their interviews showing disregard for it… in Kerry’s case, they have time to recover from whatever the outcome of the league final is,” the Tyrone legend lamented.<\/p>\n

“Donegal, maybe lesser so, but it will be fascinating to see how the two managers approach it. Do they give their best players a run out? I think Donegal will go out with a strong team. They’ll have the caveat of maybe taking players off earlier and running the bench but I’d be surprised if both teams don’t field strong teams.”<\/p>\n