‘A lot of pain' – Jim McGuinness makes All-Ireland vow at Donegal's homecoming after coming up short vs Kerry
What was billed as a 50/50 match-up wound up being a relatively one-sided outcome as the Ulster champions couldn't live with
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McGuinness has now lost two out of three All-Ireland finals he's managed them in
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He was a player for their inaugural success in 1992 under Brian McEniff
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Dylan Casey and captain Gavin White hoisting Sam Maguire during their celebrations in Tralee
To their credit, Donegal's footballers proceeded with the slog that is the
It was on in Donegal Town with the 52-year-old addressing the assembled crowd from a stage while he stood in front of his heartbroken panel.
In his speech he emphasized the toil that each and every one of them had endured to make it to the showpiece.
On top of that he added that he firmly believes the Sam Maguire Cup will be back in Donegal for a third time at some point in the future.
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He outlined: "First of all I want to recognise the players behind me here, the players and the staff but particularly the players.
"There's a lot of hurt, a lot of hurt behind me. There's a lot of pain behind me.
"There's no doubt about it that these fellas wanted to be standing in front of you and they wanted to have the Sam Maguire and that's not here.
"And there's nobody more disappointed than that group of players.
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"I really hope that this can be a moment that they latch onto and can make them stronger, more resilient and bring them to a point when they are in a better position than they were yesterday afternoon in terms of going into a big game and taking on a big team.
"And so, I just want to recognise them and thank them for everything that they have done over the last 24 months or so. Their efforts, their commitment and their sacrifice.
'Aged like milk on a windowsill in July' - Watch BBC's GAA pundits ALL predict Donegal to beat Kerry
"We're very disappointed we're here and we don't have Sam, and we're very disappointed for you people, particularly all these young children across the front here that are the future of Donegal football on the male and the female side.
"We're really disappointed. But there will be brighter days. The rain will stop and the sun will shine. And I know for a fact that Donegal will be back here someday with the Sam Maguire Cup."
The Glenties man was
But 2025 was still another commendable campaign under his stewardship as they
They also mimicked the second year of his first stint in charge by getting to the All-Ireland final - albeit they weren't able to replicate their 2012 triumph.
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