GAA All-Ireland SFC: Defensively solid Donegal can beat Galway

If Donegal have the defensive structure in place to curb Galway’s attacking prowess then can reach a first All-Ireland SFC final in a decade, says former county star Brendan Devenney.

Sunday’s All-Ireland semi-final looks extremely close to call, with Galway’s memorable comeback against outgoing champions Dublin in the quarter-final leading many to regard them as marginal favourites.

Yet Devenney believes Donegal’s ability score from all over the pitch will see them progress, providing they are solid at the back.

“Against Louth last time out it was almost like Donegal knew they could score at will because we have so many players breaking the lines,” he said.

“We have to be more defensively solid with the threats Galway have up front, but we can play it any way.”

Devenney expects the game to be tight, adding: “Both teams can play different ways to suit the opposition which makes it so hard to call”.

Armagh play Kerry on Saturday in the first of the All-Ireland semi-finals.

And following Mickey Harte’s departure from Derry after just one season in charge, in the wake of the quarter-final loss to Kerry, Devenney insists there is only one person capable of restoring the fortunes of the 2022 and 2023 Ulster champions.

“Malachy O’Rourke is the only man I can see who can go in and bring this Derry team back to where they were last year, which is right on the door of a potential All-Ireland,” he said.

“Whether he wants it or not I don’t know but has made an impact everywhere he’s gone, for club and county, and he would be the man above all else.”