DECLAN BONNER expects Cavan to provide his Donegal Under-21s with a ‘big test’ in Sunday’s Dr McKenna Cup clash in Ballybofey (throw-in 2pm).
After an entertaining, high-scoring and agonising 2-20 to 4-13 loss to UUJ in their competition opener on Sunday, Donegal meet Mattie McGlennon’s Cavan this weekend.
Bonner will welcome Cloughaneely midfielder Jason McGee back from a virus, while he hopes to have Kieran Gillespie available again on Sunday.
College commitments render Christian Bonner, Eoghan Ban Gallagher and Jamie Brennan out of contention, while Niall Friel is injured, Cian Mulligan and Caolan McGonigle are still college-tied and Mark Coyle remains out with an injury.
[adrotate group=”53″]Bonner hopes to have Naoise Ó Baoill available to tog out this time around while Moville goalkeeper Dylan Doherty will start in goal on Sunday.
“It’s an opportunity for our lads to step up,” Bonner told Donegal Sport Hub.
“We’ll have to work hard. Cavan are a seasoned intercounty side and have a lot of experienced players in their camp.
“They’re a strong side and will be really confident after beating Tyrone last weekend.
[adrotate group=”46″]“It’s a big opportunity for our players to come up against an intercounty team. Cavan will be a big, physical side and they’ll be all out to impress Matty. He has done a fair bit of work with them and they’re in good shape. It’ll be a big test for us.”
In McGlennon’s first game as Breffni boss on Sunday, Gerard Smith’s goal helped Cavan to defeat Tyrone 1-13 to 0-12. At the same time, Ryan McHugh’s late goal for UUJ denied impressive Donegal a win that would’ve been deserved, after goals by Eoghan Ban Gallagher, Micheál Carroll, Brendan McCole and Ethan O’Donnell.
Bonner said: “We didn’t get the result we should have last weekend. We should have killed the game off. But it’s a learning curve for us and a good learning experience for us.
[adrotate group=”76″]“Sunday isn’t about the result; it’s about the performance and seeing how they can cope under different pressures.
“By the end of January, we want the nucleus of a good squad. Sunday is a big test, but this is about seeing if they can stand the heat of a battle like this.
“It’s about building. Most of these guys will go on to play under-21 football for Donegal but, for now, we’re looking at them in terms of March 15 when we play Tyrone.
“The big picture obviously is senior football and being successful, but they have all come through being successful at underage level and they’re always willing to put in a really good shift.”
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