Hurt of the past drove Brendan McCole to Ulster Valhalla

There was an emotional moment captured after the final whistle of Donegal full-back Brendan McCole embraced by the loving arms of his father Donie as if he had only met him for the first time. 

It was a sentiment of real passion that only McCole and a handful of Donegal players could feel as they were brought to a point that no Donegal team had experienced before. 

Two Ulster finals in three seasons, both of which were brought to extra time, the St Naul’s was adamant that this season’s script would be different. 

It may have taken a penalty shootout to ultimately decide his side’s faith, but McCole was determined to leave every last ounce of energy on that field in Clones as he hunted for his county’s first Anglo Celt Crown since 2019. 

The Donegal full-back is no stranger to the highs and lows of top-level sport, but as he stood in the presentation area of the Gerry Arthur Stand looking out into a sea which, in 10 minutes, had become flooded with green and gold, he knew these are the days to cherish. 

“I think Patrick (McBrearty) put it very well, it’s hard to describe this feeling, it’s been a long five years since we won it, I know we came close a couple of times, so this definitely means a lot and it’s a nice reward for all the hard work we put in,” the towering Donegal defender said. 

In an Ulster final that, even after 90 minutes stood level at 20 points apiece, saw the thrills and spills of everything a fan wants to see in a game, for McCole it was about living in the moment, banishing the heartache of yesteryear.  

As the final whistle sounded, there was no time for analyses, it was a moment to savour. 

“I’m going to actually have to look back over the game to see what way it played out for us. Games like this go by in a flash and it really is just tit-for-tat the whole game,” said McCole. 

“It felt like every time one team took the lead, the other team would crawl back, it was just a mammoth of a game and I’m sure everyone enjoyed it.” 

For McCole, there was an air of an almost Roy Keane persona about him. One of few players to last the full 90 minutes, his body looked in pain by the end, there was nothing more he could give. But he felt, to go to the point of no return was the least he could do for his team and the county he represents.

He wanted no accolade for hard work, the way McCole saw it, to borrow the infamous quote from the former Ireland captain, "it's just his job".  

“I don’t think it’s a lot to ask for. If all it means for us is to run, and run hard for 90 minutes, we’re more than happy to do that. One of the things we pride ourselves on is working hard for the people of Donegal and this is the least they deserve,” he explained. 

“I think when it comes to penalties, we’re lucky that we have some excellent penalty takers, we have lads who have played at a high enough level in soccer with Finn Harps and Ireland underage, so we had confidence in the lads to step up and we’re lucky we have a really good goalkeeper in Shaun (Patton) who played at a high level in soccer. 

“So, maybe it’s in the hands of the Gods, I don’t know, but it’s not nice watching it and it’s not a nice way for Armagh to lose this way considering their past experience with penalties, but we’re happy we came out the right side.” 

For the returning Donegal manager Jim McGuinness, McCole's synopsis of the way Donegal played on Sunday was what it was all about more than anything. McGuinness wanted to decommission a cliché. 

Last year in Newry there was a belief that the players weren't fit enough, and didn't run hard enough. If such a statement was true, McGuinness was going to eliminate that theory sooner rather than later. 

And now, after five Ulster barren years, Donegal have new heroes in their 2024 team. The hurt of the past was used by McCole and his teammates to strengthen and unite them as thousands turned out in Donegal Town to celebrate the hills' new matinee idols. 

“I think when you have the dark days, it makes you a bit of a tougher person and it allows you to appreciate the wins more, but every win like this is special, it’s not easy winning these competitions, so when you eventually do win it, it means a lot and we certainly don’t take it for granted,” McCole admitted. 

“Donegal have had about 10 finals in the past decade or so, and that’s down to hard work at the end of the day, sometimes they go well for you and sometimes they don’t, but today we’re just happy and relieved to win this one.” 

While the bodies may have hurt physically after the game, for the players, ahead of them loomed a night of pride and noisy vindication, while the emotional pain of past defeats and old insults finally fell silent on deaf ears.