"Donegal had a bit of an off-year last year" - O'Rourke
July 08, 2014
Manager's Jim McGuinness and Malachy O'Rourke. INPHO
Malachy O'Rourke is talking down Monaghan's chances of recording back-to-back Ulster final wins over Donegal.
The Farney County stunned Jim McGuinness' men in last year's provincial decider and the two counties will lock horns for the Anglo-Celt Cup again on Sunday week.
"Donegal had a bit of an off-year last year - but people forget they were All-Ireland champions two years ago," O'Rourke cautions in The Irish Independent. "They won two Ulster finals, were beat in another and now they are back again. There is a serious pedigree there. It is going to be a serious challenge to us but that's what you play football for.
"Donegal have a lot of hurt from last year - they probably have a lot of hurt from the league final as well.
"I was very impressed with them against Derry; they shut out Derry completely. They seem to have a great hunger and a great work-rate. They were very efficient again in the second half against Antrim, so we know it's going to be a massive challenge.
"I am sure they will be coming in and mad keen to get a big performance. We are just glad to be there and we will prepare as well as we can for it."
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