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Declan Bonner satisfied with Donegal's success

Declan Bonner celebrates with players and supporters at St Tiernach's Park in Clones.

Declan Bonner celebrates with players and supporters at St Tiernach's Park in Clones.

By Cian O'Connell

Declan Bonner wants Donegal to build on a fine Ulster triumph by emerging from their group in the All Ireland Quarter Final round robin series.

Donegal secured a ninth provincial crown at a packed St Tiernach's in Clones and Bonner is targeting a semi-final position now.

"Look, we're in the Super 8s, we've got to look at getting out of that group, that starts now, it starts tomorrow," Bonner says.

Bonner, who has steered Donegal teams to Ulster glory in the underage ranks, acknowledged that huge satisfaction can be gleaned from this success.

"It was part of that one missing medal and title that I didn't have was the Anglo-Celt, but this wasn't about me," Bonner stated. 

"I came in when Rory stepped down last year, we'd a lot of meetings with the players, we wanted to exactly where they were at and why things didn't exactly go right over the last 12 months and we started to work hard. 

"The boys really knuckled down and you could that hunger and desire was still there within the senior players and also the younger lads came in and it's been brilliant, it's great for everyone involved."

Bonner acknowledged that being perched on the Ulster summit is precisely where he hoped to be when deciding to return to the senior inter-county arena.

“Aye, the Super-8s, and winning the Ulster title, and winning the Ulster title is great, we don’t win them that often," Bonner admits. 

"I think that’s nine in total, and we’ve lost a lot more. And in fairness to the lads, I thought the performance they put on there was top class, just absolutely delighted for anyone involved, because no one really knows the effort and commitment that goes on between players and managers. 

"It’s terrific for all those people involved. It’s 24/7, and they went about their business."