Fit Toye focused on Derry clash

Twenty-three-year-old Toye is the Donegal captain

Sunday, 18 June
St Tiernach's Park, Clones
Throw-in: 1415 BST
Live: BBC2 NI, Radio Ulster MW and on the BBC website

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Christy Toye spent two days in hospital after Donegal's win over Down and he jokes that he might be back in the ward after Sunday's game against Derry.

"The Down fellows are fairly tough but maybe I'll be in hospital for three or four days after the Derry game," Toye adds with a laugh in a BBC interview.

But respect, not fear, is Toye's tone ahead of Sunday's Ulster SFC semi-final against Paddy Crozier's side.

Toye says he has no concerns about his fitness despite last week's scare.

"l just had a bit of a headache and a bit of nausea the day after the Down game," says the Donegal captain.

"I went in for a check-up and they decided to keep me in (Letterkenny Hospital). But everything is grand now.

Bringing in a lot of young fellows put pressure on the older boys Christy Toye

"I'm not sure what the problem was. The doctor said it was maybe to do with the heat (during the Down match)."

The win, and more especially, the manner of the performance was a pleasant surprise to many Donegal fans who had travelled to Ballybofey in hope rather than expectation.

Brian McIver's decision to opt for a largely youthful line-up had caused some consternation within Donegal but the youngsters' response completely vindicated the Tyrone man's selection.

McIver handed 23-year-old Toye the captaincy earlier this year and the Dunfanaghy clubman believes that the decision to shake-up a previously under-achieving squad was a clever move.

"Brian did the right thing. Bringing in a lot of young fellows put pressure on the older boys.

"There's a lot more competition for places this year compared to other years and it's only good for the team."

In fact, rather than youth being a drawback, Toye believes that an injection of young talent can sometimes help a battle-scarred squad.

We can be as physical as Derry Christy Toye

"When you have youth on your side, there's not that much pressure on you. You don't fear much."

Going into this weekend, the big question surrounding Donegal is whether they will be able to regain the heights that they produced against the Mourne County.

As they showed against Tyrone, Derry are a rugged outfight and there will be predictions that the Oak Leafers will grind down the largely-young Donegal side this weekend.

However, Toye appears confident that Donegal will be able to hold their own against Paddy Crozier's more-experienced team.

"Derry's game against Tyrone was at Healy Park and the pitch was a bit tight. Clones is a bigger pitch but we can be as physical as Derry.

"Hopefully both teams will go out to play football but we'll just have to see how the game is going and take it from there."