McKaigue expects "a rise" from Donegal players over six-day turnaround

Former Derry defender Chrissy McKaigue feels it’s hard to argue with Donegal’s stance after the Ulster champions criticised the decision to schedule their All-Ireland quarter-final for Saturday instead of Sunday.

Saturday’s clash with Monaghan at Croke Park (4pm) marks a six-day turnaround for Jim McGuinness’s side, having defeated Louth in Ballybofey last Sunday, and a statement released by Donegal GAA on Monday read that the "welfare of our players was not adequately considered".

Having saw their request for a Sunday fixture turned down, Donegal will play their ninth championship game on Saturday in a bid to reach the last four of the Sam Maguire Cup race and, speaking to BBC Sport NI, McKaigue said it’s hard not to side with the Tir Chonaill men’s argument.

"No team in the championship has played more games than Donegal. Whether people like to hear it or not, they had a considerably further distance to travel against Mayo than Mayo did," said the 2022 All-Star winner.

"I suppose if you can't look after your own county and your own team, Jim McGuinness is thinking 'what's the point?'.

"He does reinforce this message quite a bit, that he feels Donegal don't get their respect or the resources that other counties might get at times. He's quite intelligent in how he plays that card but on this occasion you'd have to say his arguments are based on logic.

"But there's an element that he wants a response from Donegal in the quarter-final and he knows that maybe the best way to get the support of the people in Donegal and a rise from the players."