Diarmuid Connolly has backed Derry to inflict another defeat on Dublin in this Sunday’s Division Two Allianz League final.
With both sides having secured promotion to the top flight next year, it’s effectively a bonus game for them ahead of the Championship, albeit with silverware at stake.
Derry scored a one-point win over Dublin in Celtic Park earlier this month and topped the Division Two table and despite home advantage reverting to the Leinster champions this weekend, six-time All-Ireland winner is backing Rory Gallagher’s side to repeat the dose.
READ MORE: Long term gain from Division 2 stay for Dublin but gap must be quickly bridged to All-Ireland rivals
Connolly said: “We’ve seen Derry’s full hand throughout the League, they have a very strong squad and a great system of play.
“Dublin on the other hand can be brilliant in patches, but average at times as well. I was up at the Derry game against Dublin and there was very little in it.
“It could be a different story at Croke Park and we’ll see how Derry match up to them there, but Derry are unbeaten and at the moment I would have them as favourites.”
Meanwhile, the former Dublin star says that the return to fitness of Damien Comer is a huge boost for Galway, who take on Mayo in the Division One final.
“It was a huge win for Galway against Kerry. It’s only three weeks until a Connacht semi-final against Roscommon or Mayo and with only one competitive game in between, it will only be a plus for Padraic Joyce’s side.
“Salthill is a difficult place to go and they were full value for the win. Credit to Joyce because they had a couple of tough games along the road, but they’re into a League final.
“Damien Comer came on against Kerry and I know he had a knee strap on, but he made such a difference. They have the option of kicking long balls into him and that could be a thorn in Mayo’s side in the final,” he told BoyleSports.
Elsewhere, Connolly slammed Donegal’s lack of fight as they dropped to Division Two with a whimper against Roscommon last Sunday, days after their manager Paddy Carr resigned.
“It's very hard to put your finger on what’s going on in Donegal. Paddy Carr came in and hasn’t even made the Championship before stepping away. It was 0-12 to 0-7 at half-time, but Donegal just stayed in the dressing room at half-time because they only kicked two points in the second half.
“To me there was no fight in them – it’s usually rough and tumble with Donegal and they won’t let you in easy, but it just looked like shooting practice for Roscommon and there’s a lot of work to do for Donegal.”
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