Gilmore is in no way daunted by Croke Park task

Gerard Gilmore is Donegal’s top scorer heading into Sunday’s Nickey Rackard All-Ireland SHC final in Croke Park. 

He is the team freetaker and has posted a total of one goal and 34 points so far in the championship. 

The Setanta club man amassed his tally in four games against Armagh, Monaghan Mayo, and Roscommon. He did not feature in Donegal’s last game in the group stages of the championship against Louth.

With Donegal having clinched their place in the All-Ireland final against Roscommon, in the previous round manager Mickey McCann rested a number of first-choice players for the meeting with the Wee County.  

Gilmore is bidding for a third Nickey Rackard Cup winners medal this weekend having already been a winner in 2018 and in 2020.

Sunday’s final will be his fourth time to show off his skills on the hallowed sod of the spiritual home of Gaelic Games.  

And the Strabane native is relishing the prospect but not daunted by it as he told Tuesday night's press briefing for the final; “Croke Park is a great place to play". 

“But it is the same as any other pitch once the ball is thrown in, it is the same post and the same distances,” adds the team’s sharpshooter." 

He modestly plays down his own contribution to his high-strike rate which has propelled Donegal to another Nickey Rackard decider. 

“Everyman’s work-rate is at 100 percent and driving the team on, and I’m just the man hitting the frees. 

"If Conor (Gartland) or any of the forwards go out and win six or seven frees and they are from 30 yards out, I take them and put them over and get the credit for the score.” 

He modestly neglects; he regularly lands scores from inside Donegal's half of the pitch. It does not bother him to split the posts from 70 to 80 yards. He has done it this season, in both the championship and the league. 

“I know deep down, and all the lads know that it is the man that wins the free creates the score. 

“It is about every man putting their shoulder to the wheel on Sunday. And if every man does that, I’m confident we will get over the line.

“If I do miss one, there is always someone behind me encouraging me and saying next ball, next ball. It is all positive and there are no negatives at all,” he insists. 

The Donegal sharpshooter fired over eight points against Mayo in the group stages back in March in O’Donnell Park.

He will be required to at least equal eight points and maybe one tor two more if Donegal are to prevail.