Jim McGuinness hailed his Donegal side’s resilience after they survived a fierce second-half comeback to edge out Monaghan 0-23 to 0-21 in a pulsating Ulster Championship quarter-final on Sunday.
The tie, played in front of a passionate crowd in Clones, saw Donegal take a commanding six-point lead into the break. But Monaghan, buoyed by a strong league campaign in which they topped Division 2, battled back in the second half and had reduced the deficit to just two points as the final hooter sounded.
Speaking to RTÉ Sport after the game, McGuinness admitted he was “absolutely delighted” with the result, acknowledging the test posed by a Monaghan side in top form.
“Away from home, against Monaghan, it was always going to be a tough battle,” he said. “They’ve been playing with a lot of confidence and were dangerous today, especially with their two-pointers — I think they had five, which is a big part of their game. Managing that was a key part of our strategy.”
McGuinness praised his team’s character, particularly their response to Monaghan’s late surge.
“The most pleasing thing was how we responded every time the question was asked,” he said. “That’s something that’s been developing in this group over the last couple of years. You could feel the tension in the final minutes — even at 67 minutes, nothing is settled in these games — but we showed real grit.”
Donegal might have had a more comfortable finish if they had taken one or two goal chances, McGuinness noted, but he was proud of the way his players saw the game out.
Looking ahead to next weekend’s semi-final clash with Down, McGuinness is hopeful Ryan McHugh will be available despite picking up a deep shin wound that required stitches at half-time.
“He got a nasty gash, but it didn’t affect his running, so he was able to continue. Hopefully we’ll have him fit for the semi-final.”
As for the late drama around the final hooter, which came just as Monaghan were pressing for a match-winning score, McGuinness admitted there was confusion on both benches.
“My understanding is the hooter went while the ball was in the air and the ball was punched out of play after it. That’s what we were told,” he explained. “But it’s all part of the learning curve with the new rules — we’re all still adjusting.”
Donegal now advance to face Down in next weekend’s Ulster semi-final as they aim to continue their provincial campaign.
