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ST MICHAEL’S HOPING BONNER INFLUENCE CAN LEAD THEM TO FIRST EVER DONEGAL SFC TITLE

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GAA: St Michael's are hoping the experience and knowledge of Declan Bonner can give them the edge as they look to claim their first ever Donegal SFC title.

Bonner was last week ratified as the new Donegal U21 manager having led the Donegal minors to the All-Ireland final last season.

Bonner also guided Gaoth Dobhair to their last Donegal SFC success in 2006 and has had a decorated career as both a player and manager. Declan-Bonner-web

He will assist the St Michael's coaching staff for the remainder of the season as they look to finally get their hands on the elusive Donegal SFC title.

Eddie Harkin's side were narrowly defeated in the 2011 decider in a match in which they were the better side for large periods.

A  stunning goal from Michael Murphy swung the gave in favour of Gary McDaid's side and they took the title.

While last season a late, late score from Conor Gibbons squeezed St Eunan's into the final by the minimum in what was the described by many as the best game of the entire Donegal SFC last season.

St Michael's are desperate to land that Donegal SFC title and many feel they should have won a couple of titles at this stage given the quality in their ranks.

Colm McFadden, Christy Toye, Martin McElhinney have all been massive players for Donegal in recent seasons.

While Daniel McLaughlin, Peter Witherow and Mark Anthony McGinley have also featured for Donegal.

Add in the experience and quality of Brian McLaughlin, Ciaran Gallagher, Michael Gallagher and Andrew Kelly and it's easy to see why many feel this is the year St Michael's can finally get over the line.

St Michael's blitzed their way past Cloughaneely and Four Masters and were convincing winners in both games.

They struggled against a stubborn Glenfin side but having already secured qualification probably lacked the same intensity and hunger as the previous two games.

They face Malin at O'Donnell Park on Sunday afternoon and it is a potential banana skin for Harkin's charges.

Malin produced a stunning win to defeat Gaoth Dobhair in Magheragallon and that result sent them into the last eight of the Donegal SFC.

After a difficult start to the season Liam Bradley's side have improved drastically and have earned some excellent wins in the league which have given themselves a fighting chance of avoiding relegation.

But it was their win and performance against Gaoth Dobhair that really stood and Malin won't fear anyone and will relish the underdog tag again this Sunday.

They famously dumped St Eunan's out of the Donegal SFC in 2013 at the quarter-final stage, a sensational performance seen them win by an incredible EIGHT points.

Malin will be confident they can produce another shock win on Sunday, but St Michael's are ravenously hungry for that elusive Donegal SFC title and should have too much quality for Liam Bradley's side on Sunday.

Verdict - ST MICHAEL'S


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