'No doubt Ulster has taken a toll on Donegal'

All-Ireland Football SFC Group 3 - Donegal v Tyrone

Venue: MacCumhaill Park, Ballybofey Date: Saturday, 15 May Throw-in: 19:15 BST

Coverage: Live text commentary and report on the BBC Sport website

Former Tyrone midfielder Colm Cavanagh believes a "toll" that winning the Ulster title will have taken on Donegal could benefit his native county in their All-Ireland Championship Group 3 opener in Ballybofey on Saturday.

Donegal go into the MacCumhaill Park contest two weeks after needing extra time and penalties to beat Armagh in a dramatic Ulster Final, which came a fortnight after they required extra time to see off Tyrone in the provincial semi-final.

"You have to factor it in ultimately, the Ulster Championship is the hardest one out there," said former All-Star Cavanagh.

"It’s going to have taken its toll physically and mentally on Donegal, it would have been their target initially.

“So, it’s now all about how Jim [McGuinness] is able to get his team to reset and say that’s gone and get them up for the All-Ireland series but, there can be no doubt that it will have taken its toll."

'Tyrone deserved more than they got'

Cavanagh says Tyrone will go into the Donegal rematch in the knowledge that "that they were the better side for long periods" four weeks ago.

"Had their game management been better coming down the latter stages then they probably would have managed to see that game out.

“There was a few moments in that semi-final particularly late in the game where I was scratching my head wondering why lads brought it into the tackle, could they have recycled the ball and even taking shots from bad angles,” he added.

“Obviously, since that game there will have been a lot of video analysis and game scenarios ran, talking lads through what they can do better if they find themselves in that position again.

“Tyrone probably deserved more out the game than what they got."

Former Donegal forward Brendan Devenney is not convinced Jim McGuinness' side will be suffering any after effects from their successful Ulster campaign but feels the Ballybofey contest could prove hugely significant in terms of the sides' fortunes for the remainder of the summer.

The St Eunan's club-man says the winner of the contest - if indeed there is a winner - will be strongly fancied to top Group 3 and thus progress directly to the All-Ireland quarter-finals, as opposed to potentially being involved in a preliminary quarter-final a week earlier.

"Has it [the Ulster campaign] taken anything out of Donegal? It remains to be seen. I don’t think at this stage it will," said Devenney.

"If you look at this match in terms of controlling this group, if Donegal beat Tyrone, you’d think they are going to take Cork and Clare. [Taking] Nothing for granted in that.

"The same for Tyrone. You want to top the group. You want to avoid the other top teams and you want to have a week off so this match has a load of extra connotations going into it around what happens next.

"Maybe it could be a draw and we’ll have to figure it out."

Donegal now have 'huge confidence'

Devenney believes it's important that the Donegal players were given the opportunity to "enjoy" their provincial title.

"Things are very serious in football nowadays and if you can’t enjoy it, a championship victory, particularly after what you have been through!

"It was heartbreak for Armagh but the buzz is back in Donegal.

"Probably after Derry, maybe, people’s expectations with Donegal were a bit high. I think that performance [against Tyrone] was a bit sobering and Donegal had to dig deep. But they’ve done that and in the next game [the Ulster Final].

"They looked like they were down and out against Armagh and still they came through to win the game. I think that has given Donegal huge confidence going into Saturday's game."