Frank McGlynn at the Ulster SFC Final launch.
By Orla Bannon
When it comes to consistently performing at a high level, there's few that come close to Frank McGlynn.
As one of the key ball carriers and counter-attacking threats in Jim McGuinness' Donegal team and now Rory Gallagher's, the 30-year-old has proved his class over and over again.
He is one of Donegal's 'gang of five' who's in line to start a sixth Ulster SFC final in a row at Clones on Sunday, a testimony to the incredible consistency and fitness levels of himself, Neil McGee, Paddy McGrath, Karl Lacey and Michael Murphy.
And the 30-year-old reckons that being pushed to the limit by Monaghan in two bruising semi-finals, especially the drawn game, has told them all they need to know about their hunger levels in 2016.
“You don't find those answers about fitness or about hunger or desire to win games until you're actually asked those questions,” he says. “No matter what year it is, you do all the championship training on the pitch but you don't know until you get to those minutes, until those questions are asked, until those last 10 minutes.
“We were asked them in bucket loads against Monaghan in both games and lucky enough everybody to a man stood up and answered them - both young and old on the team.”
Donegal have won three of their previous five deciders. McGlynn believes it's no coincidence that the two finals they lost - to Monaghan in 2013 and 2015 - were also the two years they failed to get beyond the All-Ireland quarter-finals, losing to Mayo both times.
In the years they won Ulster, they got to the All-Ireland semi-final (v Dublin in 2011) and two All-Ireland Finals in 2012 and 2014 against Mayo and Kerry. That means there's a lot riding on Sunday's final against Tyrone in terms of their All-Ireland ambitions.
Donegal advanced to a sixth Ulster SFC Final in a row.
“We know ourselves from past experience that when you do lose an Ulster final, having put so much emphasis on winning an Ulster championship, that it's almost detrimental to the rest of your year,” admits McGlynn. “An Ulster championship is valued above all else in Donegal. Until that's won and the championship is completed, nobody looks towards the All-Ireland series.
“We have experienced two losses in the Final in recent years and we know how difficult it is to get yourself back up to the level after those defeats. It is a factor, but while it's an added incentive to go the direct route, recapturing the Anglo Celt is the number one aim.”
Familiarity has added heat to the rivalry between Tyrone and Donegal. They've played four times in the Ulster championship in the last five years – twice in semi-finals (2011 and 2012) and twice in the first round (2013 and 2015) – and Donegal have won them all.
There's been controversy in clashes at minor and U21 level too, so the expectation is that an explosive Ulster final derby is in store at Clones on Sunday. However McGlynn has played down the rivalry.
“It's probably bigger outside the two camps than what the players actually feel themselves. Rivalry is one thing, but the intensity is always going to be there no matter who you're playing on Ulster final.
“It's more about the quality of both teams. Both teams know that unless they play to the best of their ability, they're not going to come out on the right side of the result. I think both Donegal and Tyrone camps know that very well.”
