DECLAN Bonner and Donegal emerge from lockdown on Saturday and the Donegal manager is expecting early fireworks.
Donegal head to Omagh to face old foes Tyrone in the Allianz League opener.
Tyrone are under new management with Fergal Logan and Brian Dooher at the controls following the departure of Mickey Harte.
It’s 14 months now since Covid-19 first pulled the shutters down – coming on a week when Donegal were due to host Tyrone in Ballybofey.
“It’s great to be back playing,” Bonner told Donegal Daily/Donegal Sport Hub. “The first lockdown was a bit of a novelty. You didn’t know from week-to-week what was going on.
“This last one was tough. It was difficult, but the lads did a huge amount of work and we’re looking forward to getting back on the pitch again.”
Donegal, the beaten Ulster finalists in 2020, will be in the preliminary round of the 2021 Ulster SFC against Down next month after a League series – games against Tyrone, Monaghan and Armagh – that Bonner says is a ‘mini Ulster Championship’.
He said: “We’re hoping that we can build up for the Championship, but the priority now is getting two points in Omagh. We need to get up to match speed. It’s a short period to get ready.
“It’ll be a really competitive match. Tyrone are under new management and they’ll have a lot of freshness.”