McGuinness: We can’t be picky about how we win things

Jim McGuinness says that Donegal cannot afford to be as picky as Kerry when it comes to the manner in which they seek to win All-Ireland titles.

The Donegal manager was speaking in the wake of comments by Darran O’Sullivan who claimed that he would rather lose playing along the lines of the old ‘catch and kick’ game than win by utilising the packed-defence model which has typified the modern game.

“What we are trying to do is win an All-Ireland,” said McGuinness who insisted that the former Kerry captain’s comments had not upset him.

“Darran is in a position where he has won some and lost some so he can pick and choose how he loses them. We are just trying to win one. Really, that is where our focus is going to lie.

“I don’t care how we win it. If we can win it, it would be absolutely unbelievable for that group of players. They have worked very hard these last two years, they have put huge effort into their football careers. They have sacrificed other things in their life and thankfully they have got two Ulster medals out of it so far and a National league medal which is a good return.’’

Donegal have been held up as the natural descendents of the Armagh and Tyrone teams that challenged the old order in so many ways during the previous decade and have shipped considerable criticism.

The ultra-defensive nature of their football in 2011 won few friends outside their own county boundaries and McGuinness railed against the critics at times but he painted Donegal’s quest in more palatable terms this week.

“We have all been watching the Olympics for the past two weeks. Mo Farah has been talking about 120 miles for the last 10 years and Katie Taylor, before the semi-final, interviewed as an 11-year-old, saying she wanted to win an Olympic gold medal.

“Our lads have been watching All-Ireland finals since they have been four or five and they have watched the likes of Kerry, Cork and Dublin win All-Irelands and they are 70 minutes away from having that chance now if they can take the opportunity.

“That is where it is at for them and hopefully they can take the opportunity and put their best foot forward and give a really, really good account of themselves and, if they can do that, we will all be proud of them.”

O’Sullivan had stressed the fact that his comments should not be perceived as a criticism of Donegal. That said, the difference in standpoints and beliefs over the course which the game of Gaelic football has, is and will take in the years to come makes for interesting reading when the views of the traditional haves and have-nots are compared and contrasted.

“We tried to do it for years, after I came into the squad,” said Donegal defender Eamon McGee of the county’s old, buccaneering approach. “Some days we could go toe to toe with them, and some days it was just very, very frustrating.

“I’m happy enough. I’ve two Ulster medals, and we’re competing with the way we’re going now. This is the way the modern game (is) ... every team is playing it, like. Kerry are playing it ... you just have to accept the fact. In another 10 or 20 years it will probably be a totally different thing.”