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Irish Times
14 hours ago
- Sport
- Irish Times
Conor McManus: Trusting their process left Donegal playing entirely on Kerry's terms
When you're doing an All-Ireland broadcast, it means being in Croke Park a good few hours early. Sometimes it's possible to pick up bits of information but I don't think I can be overly smart and claim to have spotted anything untoward. When Donegal made the late replacement, it was hardly a big surprise. Jim McGuinness was always going to try and get Caolan McGonagle involved if he was fit but very few were expecting Hugh McFadden to drop out. Before the match, I had remarked that McFadden is a better starter than a sub but the assumption was that Donegal might go with an extra defender. That didn't happen and McGonagle played a fairly orthodox midfield role. Then there was the parade. Donegal broke early and went off but Kerry had war-gamed this and decided to hold formation behind the band until the parade came to a halt. You can fit the result into the parade any way you want so I'm not inclined to draw big conclusions because teams do whatever makes them comfortable. READ MORE From my experience of big matches, it always felt easier to follow the parade until it was finished because that didn't place any demands on a team. If all the prematch activity was hard to read, there was no mistaking the mood Kerry were in. Gavin White burst on to the very first ball, the very first play and galloped right at Donegal before laying it off to Dylan Geaney, who scores. This is all within 14 or 15 seconds of the throw-in and you're just thinking, Kerry mean business here. They started the final in fifth gear in the way they approached the kick-out and the breaking ball. I had been thinking that the first 15 minutes – never mind the first 15 seconds – might be cagey enough, a wee bit of feeling each other out and ease into the game. But Kerry didn't allow Donegal any comfort, any time in possession even in those opening phases. They just railroaded them and made sure from the start that the game would be played on their terms. They were so on top that MOTM could have been given to one of five Kerry players, the two Clifford's, White, whose movement was exceptional, Joe O'Connor and I'd include their keeper, Shane Ryan as well. It was a real team performance. We saw the collective strength against Armagh and the 14-0 in 15 minutes during the second half and then 8-0 against Tyrone in a similar period. In Sunday's final, the push came early and they went from leading by one, 0-4 to 0-3, to 10 minutes later, stretching that out to 0-13 to 0-4. Kerry's David Clifford scores two points despite Brendan McCole of Donegal. Photograph: Laszlo Geczo/Inpho It was hugely impressive and their efficiency was off the charts. By my calculation, they got 1-16 out of 22 shots inside the large D. It was clear that Jack O'Connor and his team had decided they were going after this and not waiting to feel out the opposition. They would impose themselves on the game and see what Donegal had, after that. They were completely facilitated by Jim McGuinness sticking with the zonal defence. Kerry moved fast and never carried into contact. This robbed Donegal of their big tactic and momentum builder, turnover ball and deprived them of the oxygen of a big dispossession when they take the ball off you and break, fast. Turnovers were like hens' teeth and as a result, there was no opportunity to counter-attack at pace. After the early exchanges, Donegal had a decision to make: continue as they were with the zonal defence or push out on to Paudie Clifford. That's difficult for a team as structured as Donegal. They have backed the 'process' all year and didn't panic at half-time against Monaghan when losing by seven. This must have been planned in minute detail. So, are you going to give up on it after a few minutes when it's been your trusted MO all season? Very quickly, we got the answer to that. Donegal were man marking David Clifford and putting a bit of pressure on Seánie O'Shea when he got to the arc area but outside of that, they were going to rely on the zonal defence. There's a point in the game around the 20th minute when Ciarán Thompson goes down injured and Michael Murphy hits the post with a kickable free and you're thinking to yourself, this has the potential to get very messy. To be fair, there's a bit of a revival after this. Michael Langan makes a great catch and Oisín Gallen points. Conor O'Donnell gets one and Murphy steps up, sticks one over the bar and then another. Donegal are easing themselves back into it. It's still not convincing. Even when they had the ball, it was on Kerry's terms and not theirs. Their defence is getting worked cleverly, having to chase quick moving attacks that give up little opportunity for a smart dispossession. All of that defensive movement saps the energy. Michael Murphy is made chase short kick-outs. Kerry were well set up when they didn't have the ball. Donegal just couldn't bend their opponents out of shape. Donegal's Conor O'Donnell dejected after the game. Photograph: Ryan Byrne/Inpho Thompson was also a big loss. When Monaghan were turning the screw in the quarter-final, his two-pointers kept them going. He was done after 23 minutes at the weekend and Ryan McHugh followed him early in the second half. Whatever chance Donegal had with the two of them on the field, hope was fading in their absence. Although they needed to cut the gap on the scoreboard significantly because Kerry were able to put up scores with hardly any fuss at the other end, Donegal made no sustained effort to shoot two-pointers. Maybe this was also following a process but they had no real experience of trailing a top team by so much. They did though stay in touch with Tyrone and Monaghan by kicking two-pointers. It was hard to understand the reticence. A couple of snatched efforts in the second half appeared to be the sum of it. Kerry on the other hand, having mostly ignored the two-pointers in the early part of the year have become devastating in their use of them. I think it's because when you're playing league football in the mud and rain, it's a completely different experience to kicking the ball in Croke Park with its great surface in the middle of summer. David Clifford showed the value of it before half-time. He had been playing brilliantly moving around with his marker Brendan McCole, taking him off to one side and then another, opening space for others. After the hooter went for half-time, he was moving around while McCole just stayed tight, eyes on him the whole time but like that, he was gone on to a ball from Paudie and kicked a two-pointer. Instead of a five-point deficit at half time, which wouldn't have been bad on the run of play, Donegal were down seven. It was a hammer blow to morale. Why did leave him for those closing seconds one-on-one? Kerry were obviously going to be looking for Clifford to kick the last scoring attempt. Make it difficult and try to force someone else to shoot. In the end, it was the story of the All-Ireland. Donegal were unable to force anything. It was all played on Kerry's terms.
RTÉ News
18 hours ago
- Sport
- RTÉ News
'Stronger going forward' - Donegal team welcomed home
Donegal manager Jim McGuinness has described the hurt his side are experiencing after yesterday's All-Ireland final defeat to Kerry as a feeling they will use to "make themselves stronger going forward". Thousands of supporters packed the Pier Carpark in Donegal Town and braved torrential rainfall this evening to welcome home their heroes. Taking to the stage in front of his players, McGuinness said he wanted to recognise the efforts of the panel and his management team. He said: "There's a lot of hurt behind me. There's a lot of pain behind me. There's is no doubt about it that these fellas wanted to be standing up here today, and they wanted to have the Sam Maguire, and that's not here. There's nobody more disappointed than this group of players. "I really hope that this could be a moment that they can latch on to that will make them stronger, more resilient, and bring them to a point where 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." The Donegal manager thanked his players for their "efforts, commitment and sacrifice" over the past 24 months since he began his second spell in the job. He also said that the future of Donegal football is "looking bright". "We're very disappointed more than anything 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 sides. "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," he said, addressing the crowd. He added: "I hope in my heart of hearts, that day is not too long away, and I hope that everybody on this stage will be part of that and enjoy that moment. "We have had a fantastic journey over the last two years, back-to-back Ulster Champions and they were really special to us when we got into Pettigo and Donegal Town. "And as I say, please God, we will be back here again to celebrate a big, big night together." Meanwhile, Donegal captain Patrick McBrearty thanked the supporters who turned out in their droves to welcome the team home despite the inclement weather. He said: "There was a massive crowd in Pettigo and obviously, there is a massive crowd here and this has given us a big, big boost so thanks very much. "On behalf of myself, from the player point-of-view, I want to thank the county board. I want to thank Jim and the backroom team for everything they have done. Everything we have demanded off them as players, we have got it. There was no stone left unturned. He also praised the efforts of his fellow players. "I just want to thank the lads behind me. They are an incredible group. They deserved an All-Ireland. To be honest, some of us are lucky to have one, but I have no doubt that there is a lot of lads on the stage here that will end up with an All-Ireland. "They need to get back on the horse now. They are a great group. They are role models. If you want to be like someone, be like these lads," McBrearty added, which was met with a massive cheer. The Chairperson of the Donegal County Board, Mary Coughlan also addressed the crowd and thanked McGuinness, his players and backroom team for the year they have given the county. She also thanked the work of her fellow county board members throughout the year. Those who braved the elements were also treated to an evening of entertainment by a number of local acts, including Darren Booth and folk group Onóir, while Daniel O'Donnell performed his song 'Home to Donegal'.
The 42
a day ago
- Sport
- The 42
Where to now for Donegal after a final where they were thoroughly outplayed and outthought?
WHEN THE KERRY engine was purring and all was going their way in the first half of the All-Ireland final, the RTÉ cameras could not resist lingering on Donegal manager Jim McGuinness on the touchline. He cut a haunted figure, pale and fidgeting. His hands went to his face and he rubbed his eyes as if to try to wake up from a nightmare. And then something that rarely is picked up by the cameras; McGuinness locked in panicked debate with selectors Colm McFadden and Neil McGee. They could see what was happening on the pitch but were powerless to do anything about it. There is no shame in that whatsoever. Kerry were staffed at the back with raw-boned aggressive defenders such as Jason Foley and Mike Breen. Going forward Brian Ó Beaglaoich and Gavin White were immense, White in particular, while they also had the cool heads of Paul Murphy, Sean O'Shea and Paudie Clifford to retain the ball around the middle. Up top, you have the greatest forward to play the game. The blend of talent and motivation – this was a Kerry team playing with more spite than is customary – was irresistible. In order to stop them, Donegal needed big performances and their strategy needed to be bang on. Both elements were completely off on the day. We will come back to that, but it's not too early to ask a few questions about where Donegal go from here. And you would have to start with the manager. When Jim McGuinness said, 'It'll be a fairly heavy post-mortem after this one,' in the post-match press briefing, he gave a clear indication that he will be there in 2026. Advertisement To these eyes, there is no doubt in that. If a position coaching soccer was available and suitable, he would be doing that. Jim McGuinness. Bryan Keane / INPHO Bryan Keane / INPHO / INPHO There are life choices too at play. This is a man who is building a new family home, for a large family, in rural Donegal. For a decade he was involved in gaining coaching qualifications and pursuing a career in soccer. It takes a lot of imagination to build a case that he has a future in that sport, given that his only time as a manager was a six-month spell in lower tier American soccer that ended through poor results. And being frank about it, slogging up and down the road on Friday nights in a team bus managing a League of Ireland team would be a step down. It's what happens next will be of the utmost intrigue. Can McGuinness dedicate himself to another couple of seasons with Donegal, with the threat of diminishing returns? If so, giving over another three or four years when success might not come as thick and fast, all the while maintaining certain standards would be of some service to Donegal. If he does continue, there will be many nights spent with the sketchpad, rustling up ideas to break out of the tactical inflexibility that helped Kerry along. 'Kerry came hard they came hard early. They set the terms of the game. Then you're trying to manage that and you're trying to claw your way back in,' he said afterwards. 'We tried to respond to that, but at the end of the day, they were still keeping the scoreboard ticking over. Very quickly, you're in a fight. Whereas we wanted to be in a position where we were going to control the game, they were going to control the game, we were going to pick them off, they were going to pick us off.' The zonal defence was the big ticket item that the Football Review Committee wanted to abolish. Let's not lose sight of the fact this is Kerry we are talking about here, but they have shown that if you resist the temptation to hand the ball over, then you're on the right track. Who would be reporting for the start of pre-season? Michael Murphy has earned the right to retire on his own terms. He had a brilliant season, one of his best, but he suffered in this final. Missing a handy free and allowing Joe O'Connor to turn over a careless handpass to Ryan McHugh was completely uncharacteristic. Kerry repeatedly targeted him by dropping their kickouts down on top of him. But when he struggled then, his own personal cause wasn't helped when Shaun Patton was doing the same. Tyrone's win in Ballybofey was also built on the same foundations. Will Patrick McBrearty wish to come back for another season of bit-part roles? And Ryan McHugh, who has recently become a father? Patrick McBrearty. Bryan Keane / INPHO Bryan Keane / INPHO / INPHO What happens if all leave? As well as being McGuinness' eyes and ears in the dressing room, it would create a huge leadership vacuum. There are many baffling moments from the All-Ireland final. Some looked to be the result of completely overthinking. Donegal are renowned for the amount of time they spend in hotels, on weekend training camps and residentials. Even before the season, they spent a week at a training camp in Abu Dhabi. Anyone that has been to Abu Dhabi couldn't fail to notice the serious human rights abuses, the suppression of dissent and their abuse of migrant workers. At the time, The 42 was the only media source to report on this. Some others followed, but surely there must be a sizeable number of people in and around Donegal GAA that are uncomfortable with the choice of venue. Either way, all this time away has to be filled. A report coming out of the camp in their pre All-Ireland final camp at the Slieve Russell, Ballyconnell, where they trained at the grounds of the Kildallan clubs, was that they never wanted to see another PowerPoint presentation again. Perhaps that led to them operating on Donegal time before the match. They were late coming over to be greeted by Irish President Michael D Higgins. They had to be asked twice by stadium announcer Jerry Grogan to come and join the parade. And even before the parade rounded towards Hill 16 – surely one of the most evocative sights of Gaelic Games culture – they had broken and headed off down the pitch for yet another physical primer. All of this just looked silly though when Kerry observed all the faff that goes with the official stuff, completed a full lap behind the Artane Band, and then blew Donegal off the pitch in the first quarter. But the one that will haunt Donegal was not the decision to leave Paudie Clifford unmarked, but to refuse to alter that approach and remain locked in to a zonal defence system. Related Reads A day of days for Kerry as they complete the Ulster clean sweep Here's The Sunday Game's Football Team of the Year for 2025 'I was inside here a month ago and there steam coming out of my ears' - Jack O'Connor 'Allowing their best ball player to be unmarked, is crazy,' said RTÉ analyst Lee Keegan at half-time. For Donegal's defence to work, it depends on the opposition feeling pressure to attack and bring the ball into positions where Donegal can turn you over and go from there. Kerry felt absolutely no pressure here, because they had the finishers, the composure to hold onto the ball, and the nerve. The difficulty for Donegal now is the blood in the water. ***** Check out the latest episode of The42′s GAA Weekly podcast here
RTÉ News
a day ago
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Enda McGinley: Zonal defence will win you 80-90% of games
And so the curtain has come down on a championship season where the new playing rules have certainly enriched the game of Gaelic football. In last year's All-Ireland final, Armagh scored 1-11 as they won a second title. On Sunday, with the opportunity now there to enhance your score via two-pointers, Kerry registered 1-26 in overcoming Donegal, so delivering a 39th Sam Maguire success for the aristocrats of the code. The zonal defence deployed by Jim McGuinness's side did not result in the frustration of a Kerry side who signalled their forward-thinking approach right from the off. By the 20th minute, the Kingdom were nine points to the good. The game was effectively over. The last play of the opening half saw Kerry with possession, while Donegal stuck rigidly to their defensive structure. In a split second. Paudie Clifford played the ball to his brother David, who just as quick had broken free from his marker Brendan McCole. A two-pointer from the latter was the outcome. Kerry tails were up as they headed for the dressing room; Donegal, quite simply, deflated. Speaking on the latest edition of the RTÉ GAA Podcast, Enda McGinley had his say on the approach deployed by Jim McGuinness's men. "The zonal defensive approach certainly had its limitations exposed on a huge stage yesterday," he said. In essence, football's new world is making it harder for defenders, with the Tyrone All-Ireland winner adding: "Equally, the man-to-man defence can be torn apart with these new rules probably even quicker than the zonal defence. "The quality of football that Kerry played in that first 19 minutes would tear apart pretty much whatever defensive strategy you want to do. The only way of trying to defeat that, when a team has that form and that artillery, is to win primary possession in midfield and not give it away. "If you're out there competing in midfield, you're limiting the attacking options of your opponents." "You can't not park the bus and I think we're all the better for it" A case then of best-laid plans getting you so far, with McGinley stating: "Against the vast majority of club teams and county teams for that matter, the zonal defence as Donegal and Armagh have shown is highly effective and will win you 80-90% of games. Does it have its problems? Yes. And so does the man-to-man. There is no easy solution. "Jim McGuinness said in Killarney (for league game against Kerry) at the start of the year 'you can't defend with these new rules'. I think that's the key. There is no full-proof way, you can't park the bus and I think we're all the better for it. We're all now admiring the skills of players and we're all the better for it." The lack of a defined interpretation as to what is a tackle also makes life difficult for defenders, according to Ciarán Whelan, who also contributed to this week's podcast. The former Dublin asked a pertinent question. "Does anybody know what a tackle is?" The lack of a clear answer only adds to the frustration for players, he feels. "It depends on the referee and a lot of players will play the referee depending on how far he's letting the bar go on the tackle. Both teams yesterday probably felt aggrieved on some of the tackles. You see very few one-on-one turnovers because there is a nervousness of committing to the tackle. "You can be heavily punished for an innocuous tackle outside the arc. Defining the tackle is a frustration for supporters and players. How do you apply it? I don't know whether it's something the FRC ever looked at.
Irish Independent
2 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Independent
‘Our supporters were waiting for us to catch fire and it didn't happen' – Jim McGuinness on final loss
Donegal manager Jim McGuinness said he was disappointed for the team's followers after his side's All-Ireland final to Kerry, saying they were waiting in vain for his side to catch fire.
