Tyrone great Peter Canavan says Donegal are right up there as favourites to land the Sam Maguire Cup this summer.

Jim McGuinness’s side made it three wins from three yesterday after seeing off 14-man Armagh on a comfortable 0-21 to 1-10 scoreline in Ballybofey.

In a game which saw talisman Michael Murphy returning for them first time since 2022, the Tir Chonaill men once again looked impressive.

"It was as good a performance as I have seen from Donegal in a long time," Canavan stated on The Sunday Game.

Michael Murphy’s impact was immediate and immense for Donegal say the League Sunday panel. “You have to put them right up there as favourites for the All-Ireland,” said Peter Canavan.
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"There were many that predicted that these rules wouldn’t suit Donegal, they would have to change the way they do things, but today it was back to the good old Donegal, defending in numbers and the hunger to turn over possession.

"Whenever the build-up was slow and they couldn’t counter-attack with Armagh defending zonally, around the 40-metre arc, it didn’t faze Donegal. Take the bodies to one side, leave space on the other.

"They can play it either way. If teams get the bodies back and the build-up is slow, they are very comfortable with fast hands, giving it to the right man in the right position, runners coming off the shoulder. They were a delight to watch and won the game at their ease."

On Murphy’s impact, which saw him kick three points off the bench in the second-half, two-time All-Ireland Canavan winner added: "He is such a player to come back in. They were going rightly (against Armagh) without him. You have got to put them right up there now as favourites for the All-Ireland. That’s the stage they are at."

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