During the start of the previous year, we had a pre-National League friendly against Donegal. Usually, these early year matches are played under harsh weather conditions; the pitch is sodden, the rainfall is persistent, the wind is icy, and the heavens are dull. As the league looms, the young bloods strive to stand out, while the veterans, fresh from their training, wish to blend in.
These matches seldom make history. Occasionally, the winner’s name might slip the mind. However, that wasn’t the case with our game against Donegal.
We, the Dublin team, were performing adequately during that period and had already invested a significant amount of time in training. Hence, our victory wasn’t unexpected. But what took us unawares was Donegal’s performance. We sensed that they might find the league challenging and indeed, in a few weeks, they faced relegation from Division One.
We didn’t encounter Donegal again during that season. They fell to Down in the Ulster quarter-final and were ultimately ousted from the championship after a defeat at home to Tyrone in an All-Ireland preliminary quarter-final.
However, by the end of the upcoming Sunday, Donegal could be looking forward to an All-Ireland final. The rapid turnaround is nothing short of remarkable- and the significant change is the appointment of Jim McGuinness as the manager.
I can’t say I am personally acquainted with Jim or that I have spent time with him, but it’s appropriate to acknowledge that during his first stint managing Donegal, he left an impression on our Dublin team.
In both life and sport, failure is the greatest teacher. In the summer of 2014, we excelled in football, playing an entertaining and appealing style. But in the All-Ireland semi-final that August, against Donegal, our defence failed. We overcommitted during kickouts which allowed Paul Durcan to kick long passes over us. Donegal seized advantage and made straight for our goal.
Taking on board the lessons from a previous match ensured our middle flank was never left vulnerable again. We started focusing on bolstering our defences while maintaining our offensive strength. The defeat at the hands of Donegal was a great learning experience. It made us realise that not all games needed aggressive tactics to secure victory.
Jim’s influence on Donegal this year hasn’t come as a surprise, the unexpected element, however, is the fact that they’re a whisper away from their first All-Ireland final in ten years. The setback that Donegal had suffered called for a charismatic leader like Jim to inject new energy into the team. His leadership is viewed in high regard by both the players and the fans. The team’s stint in Division Two this season seems to have been beneficial in gathering momentum as well.
Alongside Jim, strong support is provided by a management team including stalwarts like Neil McGee and Colm McFadden, all dedicated Donegal men pushing towards a shared objective. Their selective approach towards prominent matches seemed to have paid off and further propelled their momentum.
In his interviews, Jim often emphasises on the importance of maintaining “standards”, which entails players’ consistent efforts in every training session. I reckon they conduct high-intensity training sessions, which directly influence their pace during actual matches. You play just as you practice! A good training week generally resulted in a stellar performance in the subsequent match. It’s about rejecting mediocrity and setting high standards, and when the benefits are clear, the team unites behind the cause.
This year, Donegal clinched the Division Two league title and also the Ulster title, clear proof to the team that their hard efforts are reaping rewards. It’s quite evident that Jim has the team’s utmost respect and trust.
Donegal’s strategy involves a blend of running and flexibility, with players comfortable to play anywhere on the field. This makes them a difficult opponent. However, their mettle will be severely tested against an imposing Galway side this Sunday.
Donegal’s strategy, I believe, will be to press their advantage firmly. Their attentions will no doubt have turned to Galway’s front line trio of Damien Comer, Shane Walsh and Robert Finnerty. They’ll require these men to run between the 13m lines with high frequency, capitalising on their recent injuries and fitness queries. The Donegal defenders, led by Brendan McCole, will exploit every opportunity to sprint up the pitch, thereby causing a conundrum for the Galway attackers – should they press or hold back?
If either Comer, Walsh or Finnerty fail to keep pace with their mark, Donegal are likely to gain an extra attacker – an advantage they have mastered over time. Conversely, the continuous requirement for Galway’s forwards to move backwards then forwards again not only leaves them distant from the scoring zone for phases of the match but also depletes their energy resources.
Donegal doesn’t typically pass the ball around within their own half or midfield, instead, they’re keen on maximising the number within the enemy 45. This creates a dense 15 versus 15 scenario, which in turn makes it substantially challenging for the opposition to break out if they lose possession. Donegal will attempt to dominate the game from within Galway’s 45m line.
Donegal has seen a variety of players contribute to the scoring over the year, with individuals like Peadar Mogan and Ryan McHugh making significant forward drives from deep. Their area of worry is the high number of points they tend to concede at their own end; however, they seem to compensate for this with a belief to overpower the opposition with their own scoring.
How Galway chooses to respond to Shaun Patton’s kickoff remains an open question. It’s doubtful they’ll apply early pressure knowing the risks of being caught out on a high press, with Patton’s ability to launch the ball over the press and leave them vulnerable.
Overall, the game could initially resemble a tennis match, with both teams sitting back beyond the 45s, while the opposition maintains control of the ball – it’ll essentially be a game of alternating defence.
Galway faces a potential threat if they falter and fall behind by four or five points. This situation could spark a challenging situation that compels them to intensify their efforts on more kickouts as the game progresses – this is the precise moment that Donegal has a knack for seizing and capitalising on with lethal outcomes. Donegal’s season has been impressive thus far, and there’s a possibility it could extend for another few weeks.