McGuinness ready to win again for Donegal's team of us

On a recent edition of Hell for Leather, the RTÉ series chronicling the history and nature of Gaelic football, Jim McGuinness spoke about the time he took the Donegal team to the Downings Bay Hotel during his first spell in charge.

It was a stormy day and he told his players: "This is Donegal, this is us. Those houses on the hill, they are the people of Donegal and they are a waiting on a team. That team is going to be us and we are going to win the All-Ireland."

And win the All-Ireland they did in 2012, in McGuinness's second year at the helm. Jimmy was winning matches and his only defeat before that day of triumph came in the previous year's semi-final against Dublin. A defining game it was and one that did not please the purists, with Pat Spillane on The Sunday Game couch, saying: "Donegal should be tried for crimes against Gaelic football" and that Dublin's win was "a victory for Gaelic football".

A Donegal supporter holds up a banner of Jim McGuinness at the end of the 2012 All-Ireland final

He wasn't finished there, signing off with: "Gaelic football as Donegal wanted to reduce it to would degenerate it into a shambles".

Spillane would later do a U-turn of sorts and wrote in his Sunday World column: "McGuinness did a damn good job with Donegal this year".

The Kerry legend could not resist a dig, however, adding that despite the manager's new-found methods his side did not win the All-Ireland.

'The system', as defined by McGuinness was in its earlier stage of development. It was honed that bit more, a bit more finesse added in the run-up to Donegal winning Sam for a second time.

So 'the system', a way of setting up that protected Donegal defensively and forced opposition into low-percentage shots, entered the GAA lexicon.

Monaghan v Donegal highlights

In this new footballing world with two-pointers on offer, it requires a great sense of discipline to ensure 'the system' remains in place. Monaghan kicked four twos in the opening half of their quarter-final against McGuinness's men. Seven points down at the break, time to be worried? No, it would seem, with the manager backing the Donegal players to "get themselves out of that hole".

That second period saw Monaghan's two-point efficiency wane and the opposition were making greater hay at the other end.

Donegal's geographical location leaves it open to Atlantic depressions and the high winds that result.

"The wind is not conducive to kicking the ball so you have to carry the ball to keep hold of possession," Michael Murphy explained on Hell For Leather.

"Kick passes and fist passes aren't over long distances," he added.

A case then of McGuinness using the elements to his advantage, with Donegal in full flight a combination of a quick, direct transfer of the ball by hand before a meaningful delivery by foot. The latter was exemplified by that pinpoint kick pass to Murphy from Karl Lacey that resulted in Donegal's opening goal in the 2012 final.

The cult of the manager did not gain prominence in the GAA until the 1970s. The arrival of Kevin Heffernan and Mick O'Dwyer added immeasurably to the Dublin-Kerry rivalry. The two men were not on speaking terms.

Eugene McGee, Billy Morgan and Seán Boylan were others who possessed a certain aura.

Jim McGuinness at an FAI coaching conference in 2022

Jim McGuinness, by way of his presence and force of personality, ensured that he was successful right from the start of his managerial career.

He guided Donegal to an All-Ireland U-21 final before he took a over a senior squad that were at a low ebb.

His second coming again followed a fallow period for the county, with Paddy Carr stepping down as boss just months into his reign and much disgruntlement around the running of underage academies.

McGuinness, armed with a UEFA Pro Licence, did try his hand at soccer coaching in China and the USA, but with little success.

His name was out there with regard to coaching roles in the League of Ireland. Nothing materialised, however. Hard to transfer your know-how from one code to another in practice, it would seem.

That said, McGuinness, as an inspirational leader of others, was noted by the former Cork City women's manager Danny Murphy, when the Donegal native was asked to put on a training session at an FAI coaching conference.

"Over the years I've worked or observed some great coaches and managers but only a few possessed an aura. Jim was one of those," said Murphy.

"His words capture your attention, straight off. Everything about him is impressive. Like, there is his stature. I'm not a tall man. He is. When I stood next to him, it was like Danny DeVito and Arnold Schwarzenegger in Twins.

"So, people literally look up to him. He delivers instructions on a training field and all eyes are on him.

"Force of personality is a big thing in sport. You have to lead 30 to 40 people depending on the size of your club. You don't do that through a textbook. You do it by interaction, by connecting with people. Straight away, within seconds of listening to him, my reservations went.

"I wasn’t thinking 'right this is a newbie to our sport’. I was listening to the level of detail he was giving the players, the precise nature of the instructions. I remember it as if it was yesterday, that’s how taken in by it, I was."

The Donegal boss coaxed Michael Murphy out of retirement

And now McGuinness's ability to lead men, to leave them hanging on his very word, will be put to the test once again. One goal. Delivering another All-Ireland for Donegal. Simple as that. Michael Murphy was brought back for no other reason.

Meath are the opposition in Sunday's All-Ireland semi-final. Jim and Co will have studied the Royals. They will take nothing for granted against a side who have taken a few scalps so far.

Donegal's road so far has been long and winding since they accounted for Derry in their Ulster opener. McGuinness has complained about the schedule, having to play Mayo in Roscommon, and six-day turnarounds. But his side are now where they want to be. They've have had two weeks to prepare for Meath.

Be prepared for the scorching sun at Croke Park. Donegal will be ready for the heat of battle, hoping to win again for the people in those houses in Downings and the countless more who follow the green and gold.

Watch the All-Ireland Football Championship semi-finals with RTÉ Sport. Kerry v Tyrone on Saturday from 4.30pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player and Meath v Donegal on Sunday from 3.30pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player. Follow live blogs on rte.ie/sport and the RTÉ News app. Listen to commentaries on RTÉ Radio 1. Watch highlights on The Sunday Game at 10.15pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player

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