O'Donnell expecting 'tough challenge' from Louth

Donegal's Shane O'Donnell feels home advantage against Louth on Sunday will be a boost for his team.

Donegal's Shane O'Donnell expects Louth will travel to Ballybofey on Sunday with "plenty of confidence" and says he and his team-mates are "taking nothing for granted" against the Wee County.

The teams met at the quarter-final stage last year with Donegal prevailing by eight points in a high-scoring affair, while there were five between them when they met three months earlier in the league.

However, a lot has changed since then with Louth claiming the Leinster title last month. Although they lost their opening games to Monaghan and Down in this year's All-Ireland series, they held their nerve to come through against Clare and reach the knockout phase.

Sam Mulroy has been in red-hot form this year, but they are far from a one-man band with Ciaran Downey producing the goods against Clare, while Craig Lennon has backed up his 2024 form, which saw him collect an All-Star.

Donegal may enter as favourites, but O'Donnell knows they have a job on their hands and is hopeful that home advantage can play a part.

"It's been a long year so far, a lot of games played, so the bodies are feeling it, but ultimately, this is where we want to be, so we're happy," said the St Eunan's man who was named Donegal Club Player of the Year in 2024.

"It will be a tough challenge against Louth but we will see how we get on.

"We played them twice last year and they ran us to the wire in the league and the championship when we played them in the quarter-final."

'It's straight knockout from here'

O'Donnell knows that this year's Louth will be a different proposition too.

He added: "Louth will have plenty of confidence after getting the Leinster Championship this year. It will be a tough challenge, but we're looking forward to it.

"It's straight knockout from here, so it's going to be a big game.

"Home advantage will be a massive help. Usually when we're in Ballybofey, we get a big crowd out and the Donegal supporters have been great all year, especially for the home games. Hopefully, that will help us get over the line."

That home advantage counted for nothing when Donegal hosted Tyrone in their opening Group Four game as the Red Hands finished strong to snatch a three-point win which would ultimately cost Jim McGuinness' side top spot and a direct path into the quarter-finals.

That defeat came just two weeks after Donegal retained the Ulster title, however, and while it was far from ideal, it perhaps refocused minds for what lay ahead as they have since gone on to beat Cavan and Mayo.

"It was similar to last year when we went down to Cork (and lost by two points in the group stage)," O'Donnell reflected.

"It was a big lesson to take and just off the back of an Ulster Championship, to lose at a home venue wasn't great.

"We took the lessons from it and this time of the year there are no more chances with a back door, so hopefully we took it on the chin and have moved forward."