"Whether it’s a club game or a schools game, a challenge match certainly at inter-county level, I don't think teams ever look at a safety net until they need it," said Fitzmaurice.
Fitzmaurice noted that Kerry suffered their only defeats of the year against Donegal, who beat them in both the league and the league final.
He emphasized that Donegal remained deeply focused on bouncing back after their unexpected exit from the Ulster provincial tournament.
"You can be sure they’ve been fairly zeroed in and they will be coming with everything they have as well," said Fitzmaurice.
>>> Hull City and Middlesbrough Battle for Premier League Promotion Spot
The winner of the third-round fixtures will advance directly to the All-Ireland quarter-finals on June 27-28, with the tournament final scheduled for July 26, 2026.
