Bonner keeps his feet on solid ground as Donegal fortunes rise

Declan Bonner has instilled a sense of reality into Donegal football. Since assuming the managerial reins in the autumn, the player, one of those who was instrumental in capturing the Sam Maguire Cup for the county back in 1992, has been, to use a political term currently en vogue, "building bridges" of his own.

So far, he has succeeded, even if he is the first to agree these are early days. Bonner's attempts to marry the wealth of underage talent - evident at minor, vocational schools and under-21 levels for much of the past decade - with the experienced players at his disposal have given Donegal the perfect start (two wins out of two) in the National Football League campaign.

But nobody is getting carried away, least of all Bonner. On Sunday, Donegal travel to face another unbeaten team, Armagh, in Section B, and two weeks later meet Meath, another side who, so far, have a 100 per cent record.

"These two games will tell us exactly where we stand," says Bonner. "We've won our first two matches okay, but these will be stiffer tests."

Such realism, and the added belief that building up a solid squad spirit over the winter months is essential to any hopes of collecting silverware when the ground is firmer, has been a trademark of Bonner's early managerial career. Indeed, Bonner has enjoyed his early days at the helm. "Things have worked out well. We've an awful lot of new, young, lads and they are very keen. However, the attitude of some of the older lads has helped enormously in building up a great atmosphere within the squad. The likes of Tony Boyle, Noel Heggarty and John Joe Doherty have been magnificent," he says.

Donegal - with wins over Longford and Derry - are one of 10 teams with 100 per cent records in the league after the opening two rounds. The others are section B rivals Meath and Armagh; Louth and Laois in Section A, Tyrone, Kerry and Offaly in Section C, and Cork and Kildare in Section D. That particular statistic will definitely alter after Sunday's series of games.

"Before the league was restructured, we'd have been operating in Division Two, so our approach starting out was to at least consolidate that. We started off training in early September with a couple of weeks of solid work and we've trained two nights a week since then. The response has been terrific and, working off a squad of around 30 players or so, with five of them training away in Dublin, the numbers at training have been excellent. Someone would need a really good excuse to miss a session.

"It is hard to keep such a large squad happy, but I think we've managed to do so, with challenge matches along with league games giving us the opportunity to give everyone a run. We'll probably review the panel after Christmas but personally I don't mind at all working with such a large group. The approach and attitude has been so good that I don't envisage much change," he says.

Armagh have scored 9-35 (5-18 against Antrim and 4-17 against London), so far, and Bonner says they will be "a right test" on Sunday. "I thought they were unlucky to lose to Tyrone in the Ulster championship this year and they are always a hard team to beat with key players all over. We'll probably be underdogs," he adds, coyly. Meanwhile, All-Ireland `B' finalists Clare have delayed naming their team for the Section D meeting with Cork at Pairc Ui Rinn on Sunday. `We're devastated by injuries," said one county official. Indeed, at training last Tuesday night only 12 players, out of a panel of 27, were able to take any part in a light session.

Frankie Griffin, Ger Keane, Donal O'Sullivan and Padraig Conway are all definitely ruled out, while Francis McInerney, who was injured in the county final two weeks ago, and Brendan Rouine are considered doubtful. Meanwhile, in his first game in charge, Cavan's interim manager, Damien O'Reilly has called up Anthony Forde and Mickey Graham for their Section C match against Tyrone at Breffni Park. Midfielder Stephen King misses the match due to injury.

The Kildare selectors have made two changes to the side which started against Limerick for Sunday's game against Tipperary in Section D.

Denis McCormack, who came on as a sub against Limerick, starts at right half back, with corner back, Sean O'Rourke losing out. Damien Behan, who also came on as a sub, is also retained and will start at left half forward.