Russell: McGuinness will be ready for Cooper

If Mike Frank Russell knows Jim McGuinness like he thinks he does, then the Donegal manager will have a plan of action for dealing with Colm Cooper in the All-Ireland final.

The thing is, Kerry great Russell is quite sure the gifted ‘Gooch’ won’t play any part on Sunday week.

McGuinness isn’t, not for sure.

Ever since Cooper pulled on his blue boots and number 28 shirt and kicked a ball around before the Mayo game in Limerick, a shock return to Championship action has appeared a possibility.

All concerned — bar Cooper, admittedly — have ruled that out and Russell believes it’s a non-runner, just six months or so after serious knee surgery.

But as a tactic to keep Donegal’s forensic minds at unease, it is a useful one.

“The ‘Gooch’ won’t be playing,” insisted Russell, a Sigerson Cup winner alongside McGuinness in Tralee back in 1998.

“There were rumours down below at home about him but in fairness I think that’s good management by Eamonn Fitzmaurice. He’s keeping other teams guessing, which I think is a good ploy really.

“I know myself that Colm is running in straight lines only but he hasn’t enough football played, not to start anyway.

“I think there’s no chance, barring a miracle really, but Eamonn Fitzmaurice has played it well, to be fair. He’s obviously keeping the opposition guessing.”

In the game of inches that Russell expects the final to be, it could be a ploy that nudges Kerry a little closer to a first title in five years.

“It will be very tactical,” predicted five-time medallist Russell. “I think it will come down to the two managers and just maybe Kerry’s bench might be a bit better.

“Having said that, I think Eamonn Fitzmaurice will need to come up with something a bit different.

“Because speaking to a well known Donegal player during the week, if you look at the Dublin team that has similar good forwards like Kerry, Donegal were six points behind, and the blanket still didn’t come down. They have total trust in what they were doing. You would imagine that at six points down, Donegal would have had to come out and chase it but they didn’t, and they’re not going to budge for Kerry either.”

Russell noted with some irony the latest news to emerge from Donegal that they are to partake in a five-day camp at the luxurious Lough Erne resort ahead of the final, reportedly at a cost of €20,000.

Donegal spent five days at a Meath hotel before the Dublin game and a week in Portugal in late spring, while players have been availing of helicopter rides to training just recently.

All of which is a tad ironic, considering that just last month McGuinness was bemoaning the great divide between Dublin and their rivals due to the virtual “professional set-up” that the Dubs enjoy.

“It’s very ironic with Jim McGuinness,” said Russell. “Donegal were away for five days, you can’t get more professional than that.

“He was mentioning the Dublin team but I think the Mayos, the Kerrys, they’ve all brought it up a level, really.

“Kerry, I think, are in Fota Island for two days but, yeah, you had helicopters and stuff mentioned (in Donegal). There is a bit of money involved there too, you know.

“I suppose the Donegals, the Kerrys, the Mayos and these teams — Dublin obviously have the bit of money, with AIG — so they’ve all had to bring it up a level.”

Russell hasn’t been overly surprised to see McGuinness tick every last box with Donegal when it comes to preparation for the big game. The pair got to know each other while playing for the great Institute of Technology Tralee team that won three Sigerson Cup titles in a row.

At the time, McGuinness sported long hair and a goatee beard, hinting at a carefree attitude.

“People were maybe fooled a bit by that,” said Russell. “He had a sharp brain. He commanded respect as he was a very good speaker. He came across to me as a man who thought a lot about the game. He seemed to have a plan always. He wanted to go on and do PE teaching and get a Masters, so he had a vision I’d say.”