Former Cork selector Jim Nolan: I think we have a great chance of beating Donegal

FORMER Cork senior football selector Jim Nolan reckons Cork have an opportunity of overcoming Donegal when they take on the Ulster side tomorrow in Ballybofey at 1.45pm in their opening Allianz Division 2 football league match.

Nolan served in the backroom team under Conor Counihan when the Rebels lifted Sam Maguire in 2010, and has plenty of experience of making that long trip up north. It will be like going into the lion’s den tomorrow in what will be a packed MacCumhaill Park.

“Donegal is a long trip, a six-hour trip, depends on where you're travelling from, it demands a lot out of you,” the former Castlehaven manager said.

“When you get up to Ballybofey, I am sure that you will be met by fanatical support. The Donegal supporters love their football up there and they are fanatical, which is the way it should be. Ballybofey is a very difficult place to win. I was up there a few times and I am sure I came out the wrong side on a couple of occasions, but I can remember in 2012 we played them up there in a league match. 

I was a selector at the time, Michael Murphy was just coming on the scene and from the throw-in, a long ball was sent in, he caught it and it ended up in the back of the net. 

"We lost by four points and we were going well at the time.

“That win was the beginning of the Jim McGuinness rise and they went on to win the All-Ireland that year. They beat us by two points I think in the All-Ireland semi-final. It’s always tough up there, and it’s a long spin on the way home depending on the result. Home advantage is worth an awful lot. I think the present Donegal team are very much like the Donegal team back in 2012. Cork have a quick turnaround as they play Louth above in Ardee the following weekend. 

Whatever happens, they will just have to park it and focus on Louth because we know how important the league is now.” 

Despite what will be a very difficult opening league fixture, Nolan is confident that the Rebels can get a positive result tomorrow.

“You want to win every game, and I think the team will fully believe they can go up there and win,” he says.

“The one small problem I think Cork have is the players unavailable. Brian Hurley, Steven Sherlock and Cathail O’Mahony are just some of the forwards that I can think of that won’t make it. They are big scorers in this team. But, we still have the likes of Conor Corbett, Ruairí Deane, Chris Óg Jones and Brian O’Driscoll to get scores. 

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"The defence is fairly settled, and last week against Kerry, the management were able to give Rory Maguire and Daniel O’Mahony a run, so the defence should be quite good.

“I said it at the start, Donegal supporters are fanatical, they are on top of you and will be behind their team and they are like an extra-man, which is the way it should be for a home team. It will test Cork’s character, but I think that will be good for Cork and I do think we have a great chance of beating Donegal, but it won’t be easy. If Cork could get a win, it would be a great start, because Cork have four away games, just three at home.” 

It's just the first league fixture, but the teams that have got promoted from Division 2 in recent seasons have started well. Cork lost the opening game at home to Meath last year, and despite bouncing back to end up finishing fourth, they were always playing catch up.

“The league is even more important now because Cork need to be back up in Division 1 if they want to be competing for Sam Maguire,” says Nolan.

“I think Cork are making great progress and hopefully we will see more progress being made this year. Promotion I would say is top priority. If we could get promoted and have a good run in the championship, I would be very happy with that.”