Doherty says Donegal picture looking a lot brighter now

CHAMPIONSHIP games between Cork and Donegal are rare commodities, and when it came to their last meeting in 2006, John Joe Doherty was far from Croke Park when battle commenced.

The current Donegal boss was situated behind enemy lines as a pre-planned family holiday meant he watched the game unfold on television in West Cork, as his county suffered an agonising one-point defeat.

“It was strange actually watching the game in Cork,” recalls Doherty. “It was a tough defeat for Donegal to take after being in control early on and I thought it was one that got away.