'Told you it was going to happen' - McGuinness predicted Langan goal a week before

Jim McGuinness is known to have the occasional sense of clairvoyance when it comes to Gaelic football.

When Donegal defeated Louth 2-22 to 0-12 in the All-Ireland preliminary quarter-final in Ballybofey, manager McGuinness paid tribute to Ciaran Thompson, who had scored his first ever championship goal in his 50th consecutive championship appearance.

“Delighted to see him get a goal because that's the first goal he's ever scored in championship football, so it's a good day all round for Ciarán,” McGuinness said of the Naomh Conaill forward.

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The conversation then swung to Michael Langan, with the St Michael’s midfielder having played his 99th inter-county game against Louth and would make his 100th at Croke Park in the All-Ireland quarter-final, where Donegal would end up facing Monaghan.

“Michael’s a hugely important player,” McGuinness said in Ballybofey six days before the clash in Dublin. “Very elegant on the ball, can kick scores, so I'm delighted to have him and delighted to have him going well, hopefully that means he can score a goal next week. Ciarán scored one this week, no pressure, Michael.”

Fast-forward to Saturday last and Donegal had come from seven down at the break to defeat Monaghan 1-26 to 1-20, with Langan’s 44th-minute goal a huge part of the result.

“I predicted it,” McGuinness joked at the press conference to the media in attendance immediately afterwards inside the Cusask Stand. “Did you back it? I told you it was going to happen! Things like this always happen in the 100th game, so there you go! In terms of the game today, it was massive and no, I didn’t back it either!”

Joking aside, McGuinness mightn’t have picked up any winnings, but Langan’s performance was one of the catalysts in the victory that takes Donegal onto an All-Ireland semi-final against Meath.

“He was exceptional, and he’s a brilliant footballer and that’s the bottom line,” McGuinness said of Langan. “He does it both ways. He’s very stylish and honest and brilliant defensively, and he can fetch and finish, so you don’t want much more in a player as a midfielder than that and he showed great leadership as well.”

McGuinness said that punters should "leave it" when it comes to Donegal's next 100-club member bagging a goal, seeing that it's goalkeeper Shaun Patton who will hit the milestone against Meath. 

Michael Murphy laid on Langan’s goal but claimed it was a very minor part, so good was the shimmy and finish past Monaghan goalkeeper Rory Beggan that followed.

“I didn’t do any setting up,” Murphy joked. “Michael set it up himself with a great shimmy and a great dummy and down the middle. He’s a phenomenal player and we are so, so fortunate to have him. As a whole group, we know the talent he has.

“For a man that’s so big, to have that turn of foot and that skill is a huge package to have. “He’s six foot four, can kick points for range, he has the silkiness of a corner-forward and the physicality of a midfielder. We are so fortunate to have him.

“He’s just a great player to play alongside. He has all the skills. One hundred appearances is a brilliant achievement for him and his family and all his club. They are big, big supporters of him. His family come to watch every single Donegal game and they’ll be delighted for him.”