Ulster domination still a dream for McGrath

While the majority of Donegal’s panel are eyeing a third successive Ulster final win, Paddy McGrath would prefer to call it his fourth.

McGrath, Michael Murphy, Leo McLoone, Declan Walsh, Mark McHugh, Dermot Molloy and Eamonn Doherty are senior panellists who were involved with Jim McGuinness’s U21 panel in 2010.

They defeated Cavan 2-8 to 0-7 at Brewster Park in that year’s Ulster U21 final and McGrath also featured as the seniors defeated Derry 1-11 to 0-8 in 2011 and then Down 2-18 to 0-13 last July.

“I’d always call this my fourth,” said corner-back McGrath, who played in the 2010 All-Ireland U21 final loss against Dublin with a broken jaw.

“Back when Jim took over the U21s we would never have thought we would be here now, facing into a fourth Ulster final.”

The Ardara native (23) — bar his losing senior debut in the Ulster championship in 2010 for John Joe Doherty’s Donegal against Down — has a flawless record. McHugh has the same statistics, with only Patrick McBrearty, winning 10 from 10, having better figures.

“It was a childhood dream to win Ulster and All-Ireland titles,” McGrath added. “To have done that is brilliant. The medal itself means so much. The journey and the work you put in over the last two years is something that you’ll take to the grave. But we want to push on and we want more.”

And with an explosive full-forward line of McBrearty, Murphy and Colm McFadden to cope with at training, McGrath is getting an education in defending before even getting the chance to think of Monaghan or Clones.

“I would work closely with the forwards and talk to the likes of Colm,” McGrath said.

“He tells me what he likes and dislikes as a forward and little tips like that are invaluable. It’s something I work on.”