Doherty sticks with winning formula
Donegal will run out unchanged for Sunday afternoon's All-Ireland SFC quarter-final encounter with Munster champions Cork at Croke Park (throw-in 2pm).
Manager John Joe Doherty was greatly encouraged by how his side pulled through against Galway in last weekend's qualifiers, and he has put his faith in the same fifteen players.
Michael Boyle continues in goal, keeping Paul Durcan on the sidelines. In front of him, Karl Lacey, in particular, and Barry Monaghan and Barry Dunnion have been excellent in defence in recent games.
Johnny Gallagher, who was used as a substitute in last Saturday's 0-14 to 0-13 win, was pushing hard for selection, as was attacker David Walsh.
However, with no fresh injury concerns to add to Christy Toye and Michael Maguire, and his other 28 players training successfully on Tuesday evening and last night, Doherty is obviously keen to keep a winning side together.
The Tir Chonaill men have posted qualifier wins over Carlow, Clare, Derry and Galway and have improved with each passing game, building some serious momentum for the last-eight of the All-Ireland.
The twin threats of Michael Murphy and Colm McFadden have caused problems for some of the best defenders in the country and Doherty knows that if his key men perform well again, a semi-final place could be within their grasp.
"All the players have done good jobs and everybody who has got onto the field in these games has not let us down," he told the Donegal News.
"This is a different challenge completely, we're going in against a side which has been knocking on the door this last couple of years.
"Cork have probably been unlucky that they've been paired with Kerry and they've really been their only stumbling block.
"They're up there as serious contenders and we are aware of that, but we're looking forward to the challenge."
He added: "If we can get the same fighting display as the last two games (against Derry and Galway), this game could go to the wire.
"If we can get the same intensity, we won't be far away. We know we're up against it but we're confident."
Upwards of 10,000 Donegal supporters are expected at the game on Sunday, according to Co Board sources.
Cork have an unblemished record in All-Ireland quarter-finals, winning five out of five including a 1-11 to 0-10 victory over Donegal in 2006.
That was Donegal's most recent appearance at this stage of the All-Ireland Championship. A three-point replay success over Galway back in 2003 stands as their only quarter-final win.
DONEGAL (SFC v Cork): M Boyle; F McGlynn, N McGee, K Lacey; B Dunnion, B Monaghan, E McGee; B Boyle, K Cassidy; R Kavanagh (capt), B Roper, L McLoone; C Dunne, M Murphy, C McFadden.
