Donegal hurling manager Ardal McDermott says his side had ‘no other option’ but to withdraw from last weekend’s Ulster SHC relegation play-off.
Donegal had been pencilled in to take on Down in the play-off, scheduled for Owenbeg but, six days out from their Nicky Rackard Cup opener against Armagh, McDermott’s team pulled out.
The Burt man has defended the decision.
“We didn’t want to do it,” he said.
“We played our League campaign and we played Antrim. We had played eight games in nine weeks and had only 16 or 17 players available. It was just too much.
“We requested a postponement, but that wasn’t going to happen and we felt that we had no other option.”
Donegal face Armagh on Saturday at 1pm in O’Donnell Park to open their Nicky Rackard Cup campaign.
Listen to the full interview below …