McGuinness disappointed following narrow Croke Park defeat

By Cian O'Connell

Donegal manager Jim McGuinness felt his team weren't clinical enough in the second half against Galway in Sunday's All-Ireland SFC Semi-Final at Croke Park.

A tight tussle was eventually decided by late points from Rob Finnerty and Liam Silke as Galway prevailed. "Very disappointed, very, very disappointed," McGuinness reflected.

"We thought we really had a chance of getting through and going to the final. I suppose the summary of it will be that we converted five out of 14 in the second half, and converted 10 from 14 in the first half."

McGuinness also felt that Galway's run to the 2022 decider was a factor in the closing stages. "We ran out of steam a wee bit coming down the stretch, I think," he added.

"I think Galway looked a bit more battle-hardened than us, maybe that experience of a couple of years ago was beneficial to them.

"Losing Eoghan Ban (Gallagher, to injury in the 48th minute) was a loss and a big moment in the game. He had made a brilliant incision and got fouled and we got the free kick.

"Those driving runs were missed as well coming down the stretch. In a game of very fine margins, I think, in the second half those couple of reasons or those couple of insights maybe might be my thoughts on the reasons why we didn’t progress.”

Late on Donegal's conversion rate dropped significantly. "I think a part of that has to be down to fatigue and decision-making, that the batteries ran a bit lower and the what you do normally or naturally becomes a wee bit more difficult," McGuinness reflected.

"We lost that sort of flow we have had all year. They’ve played brilliant football, they’ve moved the ball really well, they’ve made brilliant decisions.

"There is nobody going to be giving out to them. We said in the dressing-room there it is not a day to talk about tactics It’s a day to reflect on the work that they’ve done and the effort levels they’ve put in. And where they’ve got to."

The Donegal manager acknowledged that it was a significant chance for his team to reach the decider. "People talk about year one – there is no such thing, there is no such thing," McGuinness says.

"It’s this year. This was an opportunity this year and we had an opportunity and we felt we were in a really good position at half-time and felt if we kept it together, push it on for another 15 minutes we could potentially see the game out.

"It didn’t pan out for us that way and we have to take that on the chin, move on from it and take as many learnings from that as possible. You’re right, 2024 was on the line today.

"Armagh grasped that nettle yesterday and they’re in the final. We played them three times this year, we didn’t lose and good luck to them and good luck to Galway as well.

"I think it will be a really good final. So that’s it. You just have to take it on the chin and move on."