Key-men Donegal can’t do without

DONEGAL have come out of the dark horse category and won a few new admirers on the way.

Playing a team with a similar style to theirs they showed real guts, exemplified in captain Michael Murphy who came off the bench in a tremendous show of leadership as they kicked the last four points in extra-time. Despite being clearly hampered by a hamstring strain, he kicked one score from play in that period, kicked a monster free from outside the 45 and incredibly won a 50-yard sprint to win a ball along the sideline to set up Kevin Cassidy’s winning point.

Some have misinterpreted their defensive system. It’s not a swarm like Tyrone and Armagh developed, it’s a mass defence, with 12 or 13 Donegal players occupying scoring space inside their 45.