Gloves must come off sooner or later as Ulster kingpins collide

Only those who were in Crossmaglen on June 26 2010 can fully appreciate what Jim McGuinness achieved the following season.

Only they can truly acknowledge just how much Donegal transformed. For on that day in St Oliver Plunkett’s Park they were pitiful. Yet 13 months later and with 10 of the same team, they were Ulster champions (Kevin Cassidy and Neil Gallagher were injured for the final against Down).

We reported at the time: “With the exception of Michael Murphy, Donegal were a disaster.” On TV, Bernard Flynn said: “It’s something we’re used to seeing with Donegal. When it goes bad, it goes dreadful.”