Former Kerry manager Eamonn Fitzmaurice says Donegal are “the form team in the country at the moment” as they get set to begin their Ulster championship title defence this weekend.

Jim McGuinness’s side take on Down in Letterkenny on Sunday (3pm) with the winners set to advance to a provincial semi-final date with either Armagh or Fermanagh who play each other on Saturday (5.30pm).

Speaking on the RTE GAA Podcast this week, 2014 All-Ireland winning boss Fitzmaurice says he has been hugely impressed by the Tir Chonaill men’s “mesmerising” style of play once they are in full flow.

"When they are setting up their attacks, it's at 100 miles an hour," he said. "The ball is really moving, the players are moving, they are cutting off each other. It is mesmerising, fantastic to watch. I like the way Meath play, but Donegal play a different style, yet it's equally impressive to watch. How accurate they are, their understanding, their chemistry, getting the ball to the right man. Conor O'Donnell's goal in the league final (against Kerry) was a perfect example.

"When they get their hands on the ball it's hard to get it off them and that has been a feature of them since the new rules have come in. They turned over more in the All-Ireland final last year than they did in a lot of games. It was unlike them and it fed into some of the Kerry scores.

"But every aspect of their game in the league final was so impressive. I was surprised he [Jim McGuinness] showed as much as he did that day, the way that they dealt with Kerry loading up, also the way they pushed out in dealing with Kerry's playmakers.

"They had only two turnovers in general play, five overall. Just so hard to play against."

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