BY CHRIS MCNULTY
THE seasons of Aodh Ruadh and Ardara are at stake when two of Donegal's big guns clash in tomorrow evening's crunch RTE Radio na Gaeltachta Senior Football Championship Preliminary Round play-off at Tir Chonaill Park, Donegal Town (throw-in 4pm).
For the team that wins tomorrow night, they will progress to a First Round meeting with Senior Championship new boys Cloughaneely, but the losers face the prospect of playing out their League campaign without any real motivation.
Not many of us predicted that this contest would have gone to the third game after Aodh Ruadh took victory in the initial game in Fr. Tierney Park, but the patched up Ardara men rallied around for the rematch and sent the Ballyshannon men packing from Pearse Park to set up tomorrow's do-or-die showdown.
Ardara have been riddled with injuries since the start of the campaign and manager James McHugh says that the situation hasn't eased any. Indeed he noted that his worries had deepened in the last week or so.
Gareth Concarr, Kevin Byrne and Oisin O'Donnell - along with a host of players carrying niggling injuries - are rated as doubtful while Damien Diver, Stephen McHugh, Brendan Boyle, Francis Diver and Jonathan Gallagher are definitely out.
James McHugh says that his side will go to Donegal Town tomorrow evening and give it their all: "It would be very difficult to prepare anyway as it is so early in the year and we have had a few boys doing exams in the last few weeks so they haven't had much training under their belts. We also had two players - Gareth Concarr and Ciaran Breslin - over in Liverpool studying so it has been difficult all year for us," he said.
"But, we'll go and we'll give it our best shot on Saturday. We were missing quite a few for the second game in Ardara and we got the result, so it just depends on how the boys apply themselves, the work ethic. If they can turn in a good performance, anything can happen.
"In the first game we didn't apply ourselves and we came away from Ballyshannon with a point to prove. In fairness the lads gave 110% in the second game and I'd be hoping for the same again this weekend.
"In that second game, the result was the most important thing and the boys definitely rose to the occasion. They knew that they had to win it and they showed that they could still play football."
In contrast, Aodh Ruadh boss Peter Gallagher is hoping to be able to select from a full panel tomorrow night, with the exception of the suspended Barry Ward, who was sent off in the second leg in Ardara.
The Ballyshannon men were due to assess the fitness of Thomas McPhelim last night (Thursday) in training and will put him through his paces again tomorrow morning before they depart for Donegal Town.
"Thomas would be our only real worry," confirmed Peter Gallagher, who will have Brian Roper back in his side and Stephen Ward - brother of Barry - has also rejoined the panel and will be available tomorrow.
"Barry Ward will be a huge loss to us. He is one of our pivotal players and his physical presence and football ability will be badly missed. But, it is up to the rest of the players to step up in his absence," said Gallagher.
"Unfortunately this is the second year that we have been involved in the preliminary round, but that is the way the cookie crumbles. It is just unfortunate, but it is all part of the hits you have to take in football.
"In a way, it will strengthen whoever progresses because they will be going into the Championship off the back of a very intense game. It will stand to whoever comes out of this week's game.
"It will take a huge effort on behalf of the whole team to get a win this weekend. It will be intense and it means that one of the two biggest teams in the county falls early. It is going to take a monumental effort on our part."
Both managers agreed that tomorrow's game really is a case of do-or-die. "There is so much at stake here. We have only played a couple of league games, so we're a bit rusty and then the whole injury situation doesn't help. But, we've just got to lift ourselves for it because there is no second chance here. It's winner takes all," said James McHugh.
And, Peter Gallagher agreed saying, "the whole season hinges on this. We all know that you want to retain your Division One status in the League and that is important, but at the end of the day the only place you want to be in September is right slap, bang in the middle of the Championship.
"It's that big. It's just pivotal and we have just three League games under our belts and they're in the same boat, so for whoever loses it's going to be a long, hard campaign. It'll be hard to motivate players if you're out of the Championship.
"But, that's football. You take the plaudits when you're doing well and you take the hits when you're doing badly," he noted.
Verdict: Aodh Ruadh - There is so much at stake tomorrow for both these sides. I have a suspicion that the injuries will take their toll on Ardara. Aodh Ruadh, with Brian Roper back in the fold from the Pearse Park game, should progress.
See Monday's Donegal News for full coverage.
