Eamon O’Doherty, Donegal, in action against Peter Turley, Down. Allianz League, Division 1,

I have heard and read a lot about Down over the last few days and to be honest some of it has been very frustrating and infuriating, we listen to rubbish like, ah it’s going to be a tough year, the players aren’t there, it’s a new manager give him time!

None of it washes with me at all, I think back to just over a year ago when Derry and Tyrone both travelled to Croke Park to face the swash buckling super Dubs with everyone tipping a comfortable home win.

So what do Tyrone and Derry do, just accept yes its ok, Dublin are supremely fit, hugely physical and possess pace and power everywhere so let’s just roll over and take our 15+ point drubbing?

The answer is no!

Instead they both went to Dublin with a strategy and a well-orchestrated disciplined, defensive game plan which obviously took innovation, discipline and a lot of good coaching on the training ground to implement with the sole intention of making themselves competitive and gaining a result!

Derry fell short late on but Tyrone got a draw and only for a Diarmuid Connolly last gasp goal would have comfortably won the game!

I was at both games as I was in Newry on Saturday past and the clear apparent difference in a game plan and lack of one was there for all to see.

Donegal are years ahead progressively than most teams, as regards the implementation of a game plan, specific roles are very clear and most importantly of all role acceptance is a norm now for the majority of the squad.

Realistically only 5 teams can possibly win an All-Ireland but on any given day every team should be able to compete and challenge and when a county outside the big 5 play one of these sides they must come with a strategy, a plan, something that takes hard work and good coaching, and if they want to avoid the type of drubbing Down received on Saturday past they must demonstrate an understanding of what I would call good “Defensive Team Play.”

Donegal are the most effective team in the country at it and here are some of the reasons why:

1. Depth in Defence

Players behind the ball to stifle and suffocate space can be effective particularly against a speedy inside forward line; defenders hate to see two things, space and pace and Donegal certainly nullified this very effectively on Saturday evening with Anthony Thompson and others operating as the plus one for a large part of the night in front of Down’s inside two!

2. Communication and Concentration

Goalkeeper has a huge role to play in giving verbal and also non verbal signals to players with and without possession, instruct when and where to cover or when to go man to man. Concentration is vital and an ability to read the play and sense the danger is important. There is very little direction from the Donegal side-line, only the odd reminder, as roles have been clearly defined in training and players have accepted them.

3. Self Control and Self Discipline

Too much good defensive play is ruined by a rush of blood to the head from an individual who rushes into a tackle and concedes a needless scoring free; despite having the plus one in their defence Donegal’s one to one defending is up there with the best in the country.
The discipline their forwards show in retreating into the middle third to flood it with bodies also takes a lot of self-control and discipline and they are all willing to sacrifice themselves for the good of the team, they don’t care who gets the score, it’s all about the team.

4. Effective Transition play

When the ball is eventually turned over by the defence, the ability to switch effectively from defence to attack is critical and also a top attack to shot ratio is also crucial so you don’t get caught on the counter counter attack!

Having defenders who are comfortable in possession of the football will allow you to build capable platforms for which to build your attacks.

The Donegal half back line of R Mc Hugh, Mc Glynn and Thompson are all able carriers of the ball and all very efficient line breakers, Michael Murphy is willing to come from deep, they have a host of very effective ball carriers in defence but also a real willingness and desire to make those hard runs off the shoulder to the man in possession of the ball offering him multiple options. Some coaches might look in awe at Donegal’s style, some might find it revolting but one thing for sure they are supremely well coached, well organised, and players have a clear and defined role they are willing to accept.

Down fans shouldn’t be too down beat though, we can surely take solace in the fact when you consider just over five years ago the drubbing Armagh handed out to Donegal in Crossmaglen, I am sure every Donegal supporter felt rock bottom like we do now, well that same group of players the following year under the shrewd guidance of Jim McGuinness, decided to throw everything they had at it, social lives were put on hold, holidays were cancelled, egos were left at the door, it transformed the mentality and mind-set within the county towards the senior team, hope we can follow suit.