McGuinness overjoyed as Donegal make history

Minutes after his side claimed back-to-back Ulster SFC titles for the first time in their history, Donegal manager Jim McGuinness was already thinking of how his players would be remembered long after their inter-county careers have come to an end.

Donegal had just delivered their seventh provincial crown thanks to a 2-18 to 0-13 win over Down at St. Tiernach's Park and McGuinness was understandably happy with his side's latest achievement.

"They’ve done something we’d our hearts set on doing, and that’s very satisfying," he said.

"You can only do something for the first time, once. They’d done that, and without being negative, this is the same group of players that were heavily criticised for a number of years.

"They've come round, won Ulster titles back-to-back, and a lot of players that were at the centre of that storm, criticised for their hunger and their application for Donegal, they're the boys leading the line now."

McGuinness added: "Your life can take twists and turns, and they could have ended up stepping off the panel, or moving away, and this would never have happened for them. People would have always said things about them.

"Whereas I feel now they’ve at least in some way rectified that, and put their own stamp on their Donegal careers."

Donegal got firmly on top of Down at midfield in the second half with McGuinness believing that the improvement in that sector was due to the introduction of Martin McElhinney at half-time.

"We got more of a grip there in the second half and that gave us a platform to push on and attack," he said.

"The fact that we have racked up a good score is nice for the supporters but the reality is, for us, it's just about getting over the line and we have done that.

"It's great that all the work that they have done for the last 24 months has paid off in a double Championship victory for us.

"We'll enjoy tonight and refocus the minds for what will be a difficult draw (in the All-Ireland quarter-finals)."