Gildea vital cog for Donegal

IN the days after the Ulster final, he was at the centre of controversy in Donegal. John Gildea, the workhorse in the team's engine room, was absconding to the States for the remainder of the summer.

And he was taking Donegal’s best footballer, Adrian Sweeney, with him.

The rumour mill stop turning soon after the draw was made. Gildea agreed to stay and hammered home this point with another tireless, toiling display against Meath.

Gildea’s power is as critical a component to this Donegal side as the targeting of Sweeney, the endeavour of Brian Roper or the enterprise of Micheal Hegarty.

Take one factor from the equation and the entire system could break down. That’s why it was important for Donegal that Gildea stayed. Not only that, but many people say he is having his best season in a Donegal jersey. Gildea wouldn’t be among that crowd, though.

“Funny, I don’t feel my own form is all that good this year. I thought I have played better other years for Donegal. I thought I played better in the three games against Fermanagh last year. There hasn’t been a day yet when I have come off feeling that was a good day. I think my form has been steady as opposed to outstanding.”

Self-belief is a word bandied around a lot about this Donegal team since the Meath game. Gildea, who has known more than a few disappointments in a Donegal jersey, feels there is something different about this team.

Simply they believe more than other sides he has played in. “The team are more settled this year, there is a work ethic which hasn’t been there in past years. Over the past two years we have a bond going in the team.

“It was disappointing to lose the Ulster final but we came out of the game feeling very strong. We didn’t play well, we kicked ourselves out of the game and we still only lost by three points.

“We knew we were there or thereabouts, and when the realisation hit the team that we weren’t a million miles away, we decided to give it a bit of a rattle.

“That shows the belief and self assurance about this team. We are able to learn from our mistakes and win tight games now.

“I have lost count of the number of games I have been involved in with Donegal that we have lost by the last kick of the game.

“In the past, Donegal have thrown games away for no reason at all, simply because they didn’t believe they could win. That has changed. The Armagh game was the sort that would have finished Donegal a few years ago, we would have folded after losing the Ulster final.”

With all this psychological talk, the subject of John Morrison must be broached. Last autumn, Mickey Moran approached the Armagh man about helping him out with Donegal. Respected in some quarters, questioned in others, Morrison is not known to use conventional means of motivating players.

“I think John has brought a lot of belief into this team. I know people around the country have differing views on John, and some of his training methods are unconventional.

“But for everyone that is a bit out there, you go through eight or nine of the most complete training regimes, the most well organised training methods that I have ever been a part of. And they are very beneficial to the team.” So, what about Dublin?

“They are very similar to ourselves, a good up and coming team and not much was known about them ‘til this year. All the pressure is on them. They will be favourites but they won’t fancy playing us.”