Harte is gracious in defeat

THE same as it ever was. Brian McEniff, surrounded by a sea of smiling Donegal faces, discussing a famous Donegal victory.

He specialises in such victories, traced back over the past twenty-five years of Donegal football, and days like this in Clones have McEniff’s finger-prints all over them.

Twelve years ago, his Donegal team were reduced to 14 men before half-time against Derry. They recovered to claim an Ulster title, and the momentum from that victory drove them to a bigger prize a few weeks later.