Brendan Devenney: ‘Perfect’ Rory Gallagher has brought Donegal to another level

Rory Gallagher brought an end to the Jim McGuinness era when masterminding Donegal’s nine-point hammering of Armagh in the Ulster quarter-final, according to Brendan Devenney.

The former Donegal footballer admits he held huge reservations the Donegal set-up would disintegrate in the wake of McGuinness’ departure last October and believes Gallagher did not successfully stamp his mark on this team until the 2-11 to 0-8 victory over the Orchard County earlier this month.

Armagh folk had congregated in the Athletic Grounds in the growing belief that half-a-dozen years in the wilderness were behind them, a Paddy McBrearty goal two minutes in shredded that optimism and, in the process, sent out a statement of intent as to Donegal’s summer ambitions.

Devenney claims Gallagher has progressed Donegal’s style of play since taking the reins from McGuinness last winter and doesn’t expect the defending champions to be challenged by Derry in Saturday’s Ulster semi-final.

“I’d a huge fear it would fall apart when McGuinness left. And it was like the Alex Ferguson thing, who is going to come in,” he remarked.

“When Gallagher was named, my immediate reaction was ‘perfect, because he knows the whole game inside out and how to steady the ship.’ But if anything he has looked at it and improved things.

“This is Rory’s team now. Up until the Armagh game everybody had been given McGuinness the credit for all this, but after the Armagh game it became Rory’s team. He deserves huge credit.”

Devenney continued: “No, Derry won’t ask questions of Donegal. They’re physical. Mark Lynch and Eoin Bradley will ask questions because they’re the two main men.

“Donegal will put Neil McGee on Bradley. Lynch is an awesome player but he needs that bit of room. Donegal won’t allow that.

“They’re [Derry] lacking in confidence from the league. That’s why they sat in against Down. If they beat Down convincingly… imagine the Derry players sitting at home watching that Donegal performance, in Armagh’s home patch. It’s difficult to get your mind around then that you’re going to beat them.”

Devenney never managed to get hold of an Ulster medal and looks back with massive regret on their 1998 provincial final defeat to the Oak Leaf County.

“I was actually man of the match in that game — and on the losing team. I went through in the second half for a goal chance and I should have just ripped it. I fisted it across to Tony Boyle who was off balance and he fisted it over the bar.

“Then Joe Brolly got a goal. I could have won an Ulster and put it to bed.”

Returning to the present and Devenney agrees with Mark McHugh’s recent labelling of Michael Murphy as the best Gaelic footballer playing the game today.

“I’ve always been his biggest fan, no matter what. I thought he could play the top eight positions, and be the best in any of those positions. I’ve always said that.

“He’s hitting points now that are nearly from hurling range. He’s that far out, it’s ridiculous.

“I know he hasn’t had a goal in championship since the 2012 All-Ireland final which is a mad stat, but he hasn’t had goal chances. He’s not missing them. His role has become more withdrawn.

“He has a different type of speed. He can handle whatever is going. He reminds me of Jan Molby in his pomp in his Liverpool days, he can just control the play.”