Patrick McBrearty admits that there has been a lot of hype around likely All-Ireland contenders Donegal, especially since the return of Jim McGuinness two years ago and then Michael Murphy after three years away from inter-county football, and it seems to have whipped fans into a frenzy.
This type of attention isn't something county teams tend to enjoy so early in the season, but McBrearty feels his side are coping well and says playing favourite won't impact their energy.
"There has been a lot of hype around the county, there's no doubt about that, just conversations you have with people in and around your own parish or wherever you go," said McBrearty, speaking to RTÉ Sport after helping Donegal beat Derry in Sunday's Ulster championship encounter.
"Obviously Jim back and Michael coming back into the fold is going to bring big attention, but I think our lads have dealt well with it, they've kind of shielded themselves... and it doesn't wear them out."
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Patrick McBrearty contributed seven points in his side's ten-point win, he reveals that having Murphy and McGuinness has made a massive difference.
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The 31-year-old was taken off with 56 minutes in his legs, and while Donegal may have been on the wind down, it did seem an odd move when McBrearty had contributed so well to the scoring with six points alone in that second-half.
"I'm only back training since last Tuesday there's five more minutes there... I tore my calf after the Armagh game and this game wasn't even in the radar to be honest."
In a lengthy discussion with the RTÉ Sunday Game Live panel felt that the Tír Chonaill man provided some insight into the criticism about their lack of two-pointers. Only two two-pointers were managed in the preliminary clash with Derry.
The Oak Leafers managed three along with around 11 attempts from outside the arc, while Donegal's two-point record in the league left a little to be desired.
"If we're good within getting the one-pointers, we just keep going for that. It's the best score at the time.
"We're not going to be kicking two-pointers just for the sake of it. If it's on to take it closer in the goal, we'll take it closer in the goal and keep the momentum going that way."
With the Donegal boss' disdain for the league fixtures in particular well documented it would be wise to assume that more two-pointers will come for the Tír Chonaill side in the coming months, where they really will be the difference between them living up to the hype or not.
There is still room for improvement and there may also be some concern about Donegal's apparent ability to find the net, which McBrearty explains has been a topic in the dressing room.
"That's probably the biggest talking point within our changing room," he revealed. "I think the numbers are very, very evident. I think we've got two goals the whole league campaign, it's not good enough."
"It's something that we're talking about, it's something we are practising, it's just the composure in front of the post."
If Donegal can right the issues of long scores and goals they will be hard to overlook, as Peter Canavan put it: "God help the rest of us whenever you figure that one out."
