Donegal manager Declan Bonner has eased injury fears over Ryan McHugh ahead of Sunday’s Ulster SFC opener against Cavan.
Donegal meet the Breffni at Sean MacCumhaill Park (throw-in 4pm) and Bonner says he has a clean bill of health in his panel for the first time in 2018.
McHugh missed Donegal’s final two League games, the defeat to Monaghan and the draw with Mayo, having shipped heavy knocks in the games against Kildare and Tyrone.
McHugh had scored a late goal to secure a dramatic 1-15 to 3-7 win over Kildare in Ballyshannon, but felt the brunt of a big hit that afternoon. And he took a similar blow against Tyrone, which ruled him out of action.
The 2016 All-Star and 2014 Young Footballer of the Year has yet to line out for his club, Kilcar, this year, but Bonner says he has ‘no concerns’.
The Donegal manager said McHugh was ‘flying fit’ ahead of Sunday’s preliminary round game in Ballybofey.
While there had been reports that Frank McGlynn was in a race against the clock, Bonner dismissed the suggestion.
“He’s been training away and he’s okay,” he said of the Glenfin man.
“I don’t know where that came from.”
Goalkeeper Mark Anthony McGinley is poised to return to the Donegal panel for Sunday’s game. McGinley has been troubled with a thigh injury since being forced off in the League game against Kerry in January.
Bonner said: “He has made progress and he’s back in training for the last two weeks. He picked up an injury in Kerry and it was slow to heal, but he’s okay.
“It’s all coming together at the right time. The lads have been training hard for the last five or six weeks and it’s been very good. We need to get a performance now to take us over the line.”
Donegal were sent through the trapdoor from Division 1 when Kevin McLoughlin arrowed over a dramatic added time point to seal a draw for Mayo in March.
Donegal were clinging onto top flight status, but McLoughlin’s point loosened the grip.
Bonner said: “We took a week off after the League and then put the heads down. We were disappointed that we didn’t stay in Division 1 because it was within our grasp. We got back on Easter Monday and that was the start of our Championship preparations and we’re happy enough with where we’re at.”
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