Donegal manager Stephen Friel admits his team face "a mammoth task" in their Ulster MFC opener against holders Cavan at Kingspan Breffni Park on Sunday.

With many of last year's team still available to them, Cavan are hot favourites to prevail against a Donegal side who struggled to make their mark in the Ulster League earlier this year.

"We would have liked to have done well and won the league, but that didn't work out for us," Friel is quoted as saying in The Donegal Democrat.

"But I'm not downhearted or despondent about that. We used the league to find a team for the championship and I'm satisfied that we achieved that and we now have identified 19 or 20 players to face Cavan.

"We know we face a mammoth task. Cavan are the champions and they have up to nine players from last year's team available again this year. They are a big, strong, physical side with a tight defence and have a good midfield and a couple of class forwards.

"But our lads have put in a big effort and have worked hard and despite the task facing us, we go to Cavan with a degree of optimism." Tweet

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