ALTHOUGH his team shipped four goals, Donegal manager Declan Bonner had a greater concern as he turned the car for home on Saturday.
An injury that forced captain Michael Murphy off after just five minutes of the exciting draw with Monaghan will have been chief among Bonner’s worries.
Murphy was put through a fitness test beforehand, but pulled up in the opening exchanges.
The site of their talisman limping off, just five weeks out from the Championship game against Down, furrowed the brows.
Donegal also replaced Eoghan Ban Gallagher and Brendan McCole, while Eoin McHugh appeared to pull up late in the game.
Injuries ruled Jamie Brennan and Andrew McClean out of the game.
“It’ll be a busy treatment table for a couple of days,” Bonner said.
“The squad will be tested and I had said that all along.
“The games are coming thick and fast and championship is only around the corner too.
“It leaves opportunities for others to come in. We have a lot and you have to look at it, but it’s the same for every team and you just have to go with it.”
In Murphy’s absence, Patrick McBrearty led the way for Donegal with eight points as they came from nine points down to earn a draw.
Conor McCarthy’s first-half hat-trick put Monaghan into what seemed an unassailable position, but McBrearty led the comeback charge.
Bonner will have Donegal’s walking wounded assessed early this week ahead of Saturday’s visit to Armagh.
He said: “The games are coming thick and fast and we are glad that we are playing.”
Tags: