Early intensity is key for Gallagher’s Ernesiders

One of Jim McGuinness’s first tasks when he finally landed the role of Donegal senior manager heading into the Baltic winter of 2010 was to cobble together a backroom team.

Peter McGinley had been his right-hand man for that year’s U21 championship. It was a competition that saw Donegal unexpectedly win Ulster before losing the All-Ireland final against Dublin at Breffni Park. And it was also a competition that announced McGuinness to the wider audience.