Derry enter their Ulster Football Championship Quarter-Final tomorrow with Donegal as underdogs, but that doesn't mean they don't have a chance according to Billy Joe Padden.
The former Mayo footballer joined OTB today to preview the weekend's action, and Padden told Dave McIntyre that while Derry definitely have a large task to overcome, he believes if they perform to their ability in defence they'll give themselves at least an opportunity to test Donegal, but it'll come down to their ability to take their scores on the counter-attack.
"The one thing you know about Derry football, particularly up in Derry and I know me and you covered a game there a couple of years ago where Derry ran Donegal very, very close, if they're defensively strong, and they have lots of good defensive players, well then they can be in a game. Then it comes down to can they get the key scores, so if they're motivated I would expect a strong defensive performance but I would just worry about where they would get the scores to beat Donegal".
Padden went on to discuss Donegal's attack, which he believes has improved this season, and the young talent which should cause Derry's defense some problems.
"If anything Donegal seem to have added to their scoring threat this year maybe more than the last couple of years".
"I think the only way Donegal can really get hurt in this game is if Derry defend exceptionally well and are able to catch them on the counter-attack with goals. Derry probably need two or three goals to win this game, and I just feel that even if Derry defend well but just don't get their counter-attack game together then some of these younger players like Jamie Brennan, Paddy McBrearty, even Ryan McHugh coming from deep will have a huge impact on this game".
It'd be tough to mention the Donegal attack without at least a mention of Michael Murphy, who Padden viewed as potentially the difference maker in tomorrow's tie.
"For me the key man in this game again will be Michael Murphy. I'm refreshed watching him because I think he's just enjoying his football more because these other younger players are stepping up and contributing and he doesn't feel like he has to do everything and as a result I think you're seeing better performances from him and I think that's going to be very difficult for Derry to match because Donegal have the option of putting him in closer to goal, closer to where Paddy McBrearty will be, or else you have him out around the field and you know the kind of ability he has with long-range shooting and long-range frees".
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