Imposing Donegal can end 19-year wait
Looking at the parade beforehand, it was obvious to see why. The Derry players’ shadows loomed over their Armagh opponents.
Perhaps there’s a tactic there in itself, that John Brennan has favoured physically imposing men in order to give Devlin something to kick at.
Certainly, Armagh goal-keeper Paul Hearty must have gulped looking outfield at the giants in white and red dotted everywhere before his restarts.
Brennan can’t be dismissed merely as an old-school manager but, compared to Jim McGuinness, he looks like one.
We are not even a full seven months into the year or McGuinness’ reign but already his players know exactly what jobs they have to do. They have it down to a tee.
On occasions, it is far from aesthetically pleasing but try telling that to Donegal fans tomorrow evening should they end their 19-year Ulster famine.
The feeling here is they will have cause for celebration.
Donegal’s system of football is sounder. They may not have beaten Armagh as convincingly as Derry the last day because of it but they would have beaten them all the same.
But let’s give credit to the genuine talent in the Donegal team.
Kevin Cassidy remains one of the best all-rounders in the game while Michael Murphy, Colm McFadden and Paddy McBrearty represent an exciting attacking triumvirate.
Tightly marking two top attackers in Steven McDonnell and Jamie Clarke is one thing but tackling three of them is a different prospect.
Even with Eoin Bradley fit and ready as their target and danger man, Derry were going to find it difficult to win this game.
Conleth Gilligan and Enda Muldoon are canny operators but they will never come up against as claustrophobic a defence as Donegal’s.
Unlike Armagh, Derry won’t find it as easy to coax Donegal into an all-out shootout. In fact, they won’t at all.
For that reason, among others, they won’t win.
* Verdict: Donegal
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