Past battles fueling Donegal ahead of Derry Ulster final clash

'Listen, no doubt it was a bitter pill to swallow. It took almost 20 years to put it right,' Declan Bonner said on the 1998 loss to Derry.

Donegal manager Declan Bonner. Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Morgan Treacy

They say that familiarity breeds contempt but with Donegal in a 10th Ulster final in just 12 years, the interest levels in the north-west are as high as they’ve ever been.

Before Jim McGuinness took over as senior team manager ahead of the 2011 season, Donegal had only ever won five Ulster titles - the first of which came as recently as 1972 - and one All-Ireland, which came in 1992.