McShea's Say: There'll be pressure this weekend and Donegal need to deal with that

After our first defeat in the championship under Jim McGuinness's stewardship this year when Cork beat us in our last outing, Donegal will be anxious to get back to winning ways against Clare in Castlebar this Saturday.   

Against Cork, everything that could have gone wrong did go wrong, and after conceding the first goal, Donegal lost their shape in defence. I believe that the rigors involved in winning Ulster, along with a plus-five-hour car journey to Cork were major reasons for this setback.  

But Cork are a good side and the outcome of their battle with Tyrone will have a bearing on Donegal’s status in this campaign. Tyrone are favourites to beat Cork at odds of 4/7, while Cork is on offer at 15/8.   

After the Cork defeat, words bandied about were ‘blip’ and ‘aberration’. Donegal, although off-colour, battled bravely and looked like they might snatch a draw late in the game, but then tiredness set in, and Cork got their deserved victory.   

Last week, a Tyrone man asked me what qualities Jim McGuinness had as a manager. I said that when it comes to making decisions, he just makes them, whether it’s picking the team or whatever. He makes up his mind and that’s it.   

He doesn’t prevaricate! His team selection is never made on an emotional basis but on cold and hard logic. He is tough mentally and able to stand up to repercussions, and he expects his players to do the same.   

In the modern game, many managers behave as though they have been put under a spell or into a trance when they only speak waffle. McGuinness doesn’t do waffle, as his interview after the Cork defeat confirmed when he said that; “no games will be won at this level of football when a team concedes three goals”.   

On Saturday Donegal’s travelling support will pull out all the stops once again, while for the last two weeks, all of Donegal’s preparation will have been focused on Clare this Saturday.   

Clare comes into this game with nothing to lose, beaten by Cork and Tyrone they will view this outing as a great opportunity to beat the Ulster champions. No doubt Donegal’s game plan will have been fine-tuned over the last 10 days and will be again before the match to make sure that everyone is certain about what they must do.   

While Clare can come with a relaxed approach on Saturday there will be pressure on Donegal. Pressure is real, and there will be a degree of anxiety and tension among Donegal players, some more than others, and when it comes to the effects of pressure, there is no immunity.   

The ultimate measure of a player is not where he stands when things are going well, but where he stands in the face of a challenge. Donegal, I believe will win this game with a bit to spare, but if the weather is unkind, it will mean that the conditions will play a major role and favourites as Donegal are, they will have to work much harder to win.   

Donegal have talented players on every line of the pitch and the two-week break should see them refreshed and ready for the fray.   

While there is always a degree of pressure on the players, managers are always under the microscope also. Long-term plans have long since disappeared from the agendas of football managers. They are too busy trying to find the magic formula that delivers instant success.   

Donegal followers are enjoying what is a remarkable resurgence in the county’s footballing fortunes under McGuinness, and I believe that after Saturday there will be more tales to tell.