 So it's time for this week's GA preview and it is a massive week for Donegal GAA as they take on Arma in the quarterfinal of the Ulster senior football championship. Joining us of course is our match analyst Martin McHugh. Martin good to see you, good to talk to you. Hello Ashley. Well Martin before we actually delve into the game itself a lot has happened this week off the pitch. A a number of the Arma players have had their bands overturned. From a Donegal point of view they're still going to be without Ormik Fad and Ferre and Neil McGee. The CCC at times has come in for sort of criticism over the situation and how things have panned out and unfolding. Now I know that you're part of the CCC at Croke Park and you can't say a while on the situation but how would you sum up the events that have taken place this week ahead of the game? Well I think when we look at it I suppose a lot of stuff has been highlighted and with all the appeals and everything else and where the road that the GA is going down and everything else and I would just be very fearful of the road that we are going down at the minute you know and everything else. So I think we look at it from first of all from a referee's point of view. Referees ref a match on the Sunday. Some of them are working on Sunday evening and some of them are they're all definitely working on a Monday and everything else. So I mean to get the report done out and everything else done out and everything else you know it's probably you know the way it is with them and everything else it's not easy for them and everything else. But from a CCC point of view the CCC when they meet they just go on the referee's report and that's what they do and everything else and I know there was criticism about of the Rean O'Neill affair. My Rean about I wasn't sitting on it the fact that Donegal was involved had nothing to do with it I didn't get any information from the CCC about the case at all and what I know is what they do is that maybe when the appeals went in they went back and started the video of the match and then they ended up seeing the Rean O'Neill case and they put that to the referee then asking the referee did he deal with a situation or not and then that goes back to the CCCC and they make a decision on it then. So that's the way it works and you know I know some people are saying maybe that the CCCC are not back in the referees. I mean that's of course they back the referees they're a very honorable group the whole lot of them the people that's in it and everything else and the thing about it is they just make a decision go on the referee's report and then that goes back to the county boards and then they make the decision to appeal it or whatever else goes on but you know the CCCC when they sit down is really on the referee's report. If they do study videos in that there they'll go to the referee then and ask him to ask the referee did they deal with the situation or not and that's basically the way it works but I mean it's gone down another road then of appeals and everything else and suppose the big thing that came out this week actually now of it is that people are saying that you know when you contribute to a Malay you're part of it and you get your one match ban or wherever on the referee class that they're now they're saying now after what happened this week that it's that you have to that the referee is to explain exactly how did you contribute to a Malay and everything else and I think we have another case probably common where we're going to look at it is that that players that they're saying now that people are going into the Malay to protect their teammates so is it the rule book is the rule books is the problem or whatever the problem is are we going to have to look at the rule book from a GA point of view and redress the whole thing are we going down the road of having a siting committee like they have in within the rugby and everything else or the the other thing we can look at is that you're allowed some people are saying you're allowed one appeal and one appeal only and if you lose that that they double the ban maybe or something like that there but definitely it's been highlighted now as you said everybody all over the country is talking about it and everything else it is a massive problem some people are saying it's a joke and everything else the one thing about it is highlighted now and it's going to have to be addressed because we're going to have bigger problems coming down the road yeah we wait to see what's going to happen now in the coming months but Martin there's no short or there's no quick fix for this situation is there's going to take time for changes to be made and to try and improve the appeal system on disciplinary issues yeah well it's you know it's the thing about it is suppose we look at it that maybe from a GA point of view there's too many appeals allowed you know with the DRA as well where people can go to that there and everything else as well you know what was interesting suppose Austin back in my time you know I played football you were sent off mostly in the right nearly all the time in the right any player was sent off mostly in the right and all the time you were sent some players were sent off on the wrong and they just took it on the chin there's other times players weren't sent off they should have been sent off weren't sent off so you know and we got on with that time and you know maybe it was a lot easier that time than it is now but the way it is but that's the way the system has moved on now and particularly at their county level you know there's a lot of work and a lot of everything else gone into it and everything else so look at someone that will you know I would say when the season's over it'll definitely have to be addressed by the GA and whether we've looked at the whole rule book and everything else there's someone to be done because it is probably complicated and everything else and you know that the people that is very very tough on us referees I mean they're looking at a situation now when a such an incident happens in a game now where we have a Malay if it does happen any game this weekend then the referees going to the umpires and umpires saying well I'm not sure did they want to protect their player this is whether they went into the Malay or not so that's definitely looking at it that's going to have to be addressed so yeah a lot of stuff to be addressed down the road but sure it wouldn't be the GA if we didn't have situations like that sausage. Let's focus on the game in hand then Martin um how big a boost is it to the visitors to Balbofay this weekend that all of a sudden of nearly a full deck to pick from off the back of what happened? Yeah it has to be a big boost to them particularly when you know Donny Gall didn't appeal their two players and they end up now short-term players and everything else so I think it is definitely a boost it does probably add a wee bit of pressure on them that they're coming now with a full side it's a very very big match for both teams where particularly it becomes now a massive match for for Amal coming down you know to make that breakthrough from their point of view looking at it and uh it's going to be a great game it's going to be a very enjoyable game I think the weather's going to be good and everything else and you were looking forward to it and suppose maybe with the back door and everything else it does take a bit of the pressure off but it'll be heated atmosphere about Balbofay we had a lot of big matches against her own in Balbofay in the past and this is definitely going to be a big one against Aramaa now. Yeah it's been a while since Donny Gall actually lost a game in the opening round of the championship in Balbofay I think 2010 Martin maybe it was the last time that that happened but if Donny Gall are going to overcome Aramaa they they need to have as many players available as as possible Deckman Bonner confirmed this week that Oisin Gallen seems to be the only one that's going to miss out through injury obviously Orin McFadden-Ferry you would have seen this been been a starter but Donny Gall is going to need everybody firing on all cylinders are they? Yeah exactly and I think you can go back that game in 2010 it was after extra time down beat Donny Gall that year after it was after extra time in Balbofay that day and and down went to the All-Ireland final that year as well in Cork beat them in the All-Ireland final but I think you're right they're going to have everybody firing on all cylinders we're at home in Balbofay you know that's an advantage to us we're hard to beat there you know when Omanon came down this year and beat us in the league and everything else but we've a good record there and Hugh said Oisin a very good record in the championship there so yeah hopefully everybody's available and available and going well and everything else and you know it'll be it's going to be don't rule out get this game going to extra time even with with there not much between the two sides you feel you know we look at we look at the league match and everything else against them and everything else and I know there weren't a lot of stake but in the end up there weren't a while lot there's only a kick of a ball in it so it's going to be very very close do you mean it's what the Ulster championship is about and everything else and I think that you know we've done it all of everybody available they have a great chance yeah if we go back to that game and letter of Kenny done it all we're we're cruising up until halftime Martin and then Reino Neil was introduced and Rory Gruggen was introduced as well to the game in the second half and both of those players were the players that were doing the damage how do you deal with Reino Neil this time around because he's we're not they're not going to wait the halftime to bring him on this time around Martin no I don't I don't think so definitely not going to wait the halftime I think looking at that day is funny the interesting they took him on us and they played him out the field so they didn't put him into the full forward lane at all and I expect them to start him inside this day so well done he'll probably Brent McColl will pick up pick him up and in the full forward he was in there and when he does drift out the field he's one of the great players one of the best players in the country at the minute I know we say people say David Claffer's ahead of everybody else in the country but he's up there with them Reino Neil and when he's brilliant that he's got it done he got to be very disciplined because he's a brilliant free-taker off the ground he's a lovely one of these players lovely striker of the ball we know that the Osheen McConville's actually his uncle and everything else who's a brilliant striker of a dead ball off the grounds well he's a lovely striker have to be very disciplined not to give away freeze because he will kick freeze and you know the surface in Balboffay we know is very good there's always a place when I kick freezing myself come back along to me I love kicking in Balboffay there's one of the pitches whatever kind of surface on you like kicking dead balls of it so I think it'd be very important to be to be well disciplined and we know that Michael Murphy can do the same thing for Donny Gall off the ground at the other end was right foot or pattern ready to the left but I think that's everyone's going to be very important and that's why I think if Donny Gall get one enough ball and run a dharma and make them you know give away fouls and that there that could come all down to that there yeah well you mentioned Michael Murphy we've seen that um in numerous games with Michael Murphy and it spells as well in the last game against dharma Murphy creating the space for for McBurke because he was dragging three or four players uh with them um is maybe that a tactic that Donny Gall's going to have to implement more this time around than what they did the last day ah yeah exactly I mean we know you know Mike anywhere you go in Ireland Michael Murphy's the most feared player and and and Donny Gall I mean that's and the good thing about it is when he plays and you know and if he stays inside and plays inside that they will that could mean the other or whatever you're playing will drift players back to cover that space and I mean that gives more freedom out the field for the players to get going out the field so yeah it's important tactically you know we can't expect them to to carry us like he's been doing in the past every day goes out and I mean it's but you expect it whatever you know to use them in the right ways exactly what you said right you know and uh looking to leave the space for other players like Paddingbury always I have always remember Paddingbury playing really well against our mass so expect a big game for Paddingbury Paddingbury and Sunday and I think if we can break even Donny Gall in the middle of the park I think that's the big area around there pick up the breaking ball in that area we can have possession of the ball keep possession of the ball and don't allow them to get possession of the ball and the other thing is I'm I like kicking the ball so they will kick a fair bit of ball so it's important for Donny Gall to keep that you know don't get turnovers and everything else and stop them the ability of them put pressure on that out the field and run at them and run I would say you know keep usage space in that there especially when Michael Murphy's inside and the players in front of him get space and run run run at them and I think that's what to use as much as possible on Sunday. Yeah and obviously you need big man around the middle Martin if you're going to leave Michael Murphy in there obviously there's a there's a couple of options for Declan Bonerswiler is in the middle of the park. Yeah and you know the situation is that you're not always maybe you know leave Michael Murphy in there and say you can take him out at times maybe and there's no harm then to put an odd high ball in on top of Paddingbury in there who remember the famous day they played I think it was up on the athletic grounds where first high ball went in Paddingbury caught it and stuck it in the back of the net so I think you can use that tactic but you're right in the middle of the field and we've got big men that whether it's Jason McGee, Q McFadden, hopefully Michael Langen's fit, you've Kearn Thompson who's a natural midfielder in that area so a lot of players in that area. Kearn McGonagall as well is too back. Kearn McGonagall back that doesn't mean he's had a great year and it's great that he is back you know that's great that's another big plus of Kearn McGonagall's fit to go as well so we've got we've got big men in that area we have power in that area and the good thing about them big men we talk about they all can play ball as well so yeah that's I've said it's a big area you know they've they've gone with Jarlathog Burns now our mad wing back who said you know one big player for them maybe his back leaving with Kearn Thompson is going to be like more like a midfield battle in that in that area in that area but I think that the midfield is very very important whatever way and it's still an important area in Gaelic football though one because both teams will probably press on the kick out and you know that and that means that probably the kick out will go long probably from both teams it'll go long and I mean who our mad playing goals is going to be a big question as well they've gone with Ethan Rafferty's last while who actually managed in Jordan who I didn't know he was a goalkeeper at all he's always played most of his football out the field for a brilliant striker of the ball and a very strong striker and good on the ball and able to come out the field with the ball as we've seen in the games in the league so there's a lot of still decisions do you put the pressure on him Martin do you love the high ball then test him early on well well he actually would be a midfielder centre forwards he might be good enough on the air and everything else but definitely in a one-to-one situation he'd be no more so than you know not a natural goalkeeper who didn't grow up as a goalkeeper that's where you maybe you could make hay with a goalkeeper that's not used you know the goals and everything else and you know we know Kerry what they did what they did against Mullen when they when they put pressure so some of the some some teams put different pressure on goalkeeper but then you would have to say not if he plays in goals and he I didn't see their mad teamering us but him not being a natural goalkeeper so understandably you put a bit of pressure on yeah well mentioned two sit-knows man you already spoke about Brendan McCall who's had a fantastic year and has really stepped up in that in that fullback role Martin has taken on some of the stars of of the sport this year and has done very very well on them and Pat Ermogen was on the verge of becoming Ulster player of the year a couple of seasons ago is this the championship that Mogen can can tear it up again and have a go yeah I think someone is addressing around around traveling around the country talking to different people and in different counties the sense that you know they really read them highly Pat Ermogen's really and that's always a good sign when you hear people outside your own country written a player and what he's about and everything else you know and he he adds that link which is very very important and doesn't matter you can play him in the half forwarding take him back and use him as sweeper you play him sweeper you can play him one back yeah he's a fabulous footballer we know that very well about numbering else and very good and can kick a score as well so yeah it's a big it's a big year it's a big year for for for Pat Ermogen but we talk you know when you analyze him as a footballer he's you know he deserves to be that first 15 in Donegal and you know it's not easy you know some it's not the easiest team when everybody's available to get into and he's really turned into a fabulous footballer and a big big plus for Donegal to have so then Martin how do you see this one go we're a couple of days out here now from from from the start of the game and as we all know a lot has happened since that day that we beat Arma in in the league but how's this one gonna go do you think on on Sunday well first of all Morris Deegan's going to have to be on top of his game and be really on top of his game from from the minute the ball's thrown in it's a big game it's a big game for him i was sadden about people would tell you that that gold dig is probably the best referee in the country a lot of people say that even players will tell you that there but i was a member of the first game the gold digreft in Ulster he came up to referee i think it was 2006 Turon were our iron champions and Derry were playing them in the first round i think it was Noma and at halftime Turon hadn't scored i think the referee that i think he had to take a week off work afterwards with the pressure and everything else he was under that day he didn't realize what Ulster was about so Morris Deegan might take the week off after after this game and about but he'd have to be on top of this is going to be no intense stuff from day one with everything that's happened particularly anything else so it's a great occasion it's greatest battle buffet and everything else i think it'll go down to the wire us you know i think it'll be very very close i think it will go down to the wire and everything else but i just think maybe don't need all of that wee bit more talent i feel just that wee bit more hopefully maybe even to come off the bench and maybe make a difference i wouldn't rule out extra time as i said the earlier on but listen we we know has been done a young man we'll take a one-point factory and you know if we could want it it would be one of the sweetest ones that we've won in a while and you'll take an early goal from Patrick and Bertie again i'll take an early goal from anybody it doesn't matter whose scores there's a lump here even kicks into the net we'll be we'll be happy enough we've had a lot of famous goals and i remember a famous one i think it was 2007 kevin castley scored a very late goal against armagh to beat them and balba fae around the world saying there was a square ball and everything else but it was allowed on the day and there was a big goal to get right at the end of the game so we'll take any kind of a score we can get earlier on but yeah to be important to get a good start done he got i think to dictate the game no team likes chasing the game and particularly against ulster teams it's hard to chase the game i think armagh will be no no different nothing else but there's a lot of pressure in armagh coming a lot of pressure coming there's a big year for them this whole setup the management team and everything else have been a while around and they need a one and ulster championship so it's a big year for them and that's why this game is massive for both countries okay we look forward to championship football's back mark mcqueen thank you thanks aussie