'That was a big step for us . . . we're going in the right direction' - Jim McGuinness

Donegal manager Jim McGuinness cited today’s win over Derry as a massive step for his side’s journey in this year’s championship, following Donegal’s 4-11 to 0-16 point win over the Oak Leaf County in Celtic Park this afternoon. 

Daire Ó Baoill's brace of goals, each side of the half-time break announced McGuinness's arrival back to the senior football championship in some style as he overcame Mickey Harte’s side who were chasing three Ulster titles in-a-row. 

But no matter what the punter had predicted before the match, McGuinness and his side always believed they were good enough to beat the National League champions, stating that this match was always on their minds from the moment the draw was done. 

“From the day the draw was made, it made no difference who we were playing, it was the first round of the championship and we had to prepare for that and plan for that from day one,” McGuinness said. 

“It’s just a great day for Donegal, the setting was unbelievable, the weather is great, and playing a top team on their own doorstep and beating them . . . it had a great championship feel tonight.” 

McGuinness has always been known throughout his time in management for having a trick up his sleeve, and it proved again today as his team slotted four goals past Derry, with three coming from exploiting Derry ’keeper Odhran Lynch when he pushed up on Donegal’s kickouts, leaving an open net for Donegal to exploit. 

And it proved wonders with three of Donegal’s goals coming from long balls kicked into an empty Derry goalmouth. 

“We do play a lot of our football through the hands, that’s just how we do it in Donegal, but we kicked it well today, there were a lot of transitional moments in the game, and we capitalised on a lot of them with goals,” said the Glenties man. 

“That is unusual, there’s not that many times we get those goal chances, some fell by chance, but overall, I’m delighted how well we defended and attacked and supported each other to make our game fast and sharp.” 

In analysing Donegal’s attacking play from their own kickouts by exploiting the space behind Lynch, McGuinness acknowledged it was an area they have been targeting. 

“The kickouts are such a massive part of the game now, it’s incredibly difficult to break goalkeepers down nowadays and a lot of teams are looking at that. Derry did so much damage against Dublin with their kickouts over the top, and we did damage today, but they’re just moments in the game that you hope works out for you. 

“These are fine moments in the game. We’ve been poor at executing those fine moments up to this point, but it’s just about putting plans in place and today it all fell our way.” 

Donegal have just eight days now to regroup to play their Ulster semi-final against either the winners of Cavan or Tyrone, but for now, the Donegal manager leaves satisfied knowing his players are going in the right direction on the trip he’s mapped out for them. 

“This is a big step for us,” he said. “I still feel Derry, Kerry, and Dublin are still the top three teams in the country, but we’re now in an Ulster semi-final and that was the only thing that was important to us. We’ll go again now in eight days' time.