Jarlath – Donegal are more than just a system

Donegal training

Firstly, comhghairdeas to a Donegal team which defied the odds, the record books and their own historical demons, to do a fantastic two in a row of Ulster titles.

From a side of the draw which contained so many heavyweights, to emerge so effortlessly, so unscathed and so distinguished, deserves considerable credit and they are now the undisputed kingpins of Ulster.

Their second half performance against Down was one of the most perfect examples of power football we have witnessed in a decade and must now make them serious contenders for the All Ireland.

But the amount of energy it must have taken to transform such a ramshackle, dilapidated and pitiful bunch of players who trudged off the pitch in Crossmaglen in June 2010 cannot be underestimated.

And Jimmy McGuinness has done more than simply impose a system and a strict training regime on these men.  He has also made them better players, more confident and with a greater understanding on how to win matches.

They are a notch above Tyrone and about five ahead of the rest of Ulster.  However, their meteoric rise to a position of such strength where they are unbeaten in this province for two years, has come at a price and must be throwing down serious gauntlets for the rest of the province.