McShea's Say: A Donegal side with an extraordinary ability to respond to adversity

Football and hurling are as integral to Irish life as tradition and self-determination, running right through the social fabric of the nation.

On Saturday, as we waited for the start of the epic clash between Donegal and Monaghan, you could feel the heartbeat of the last great amateur sporting organisation reverberating through the magnificent Croke Park. The air of expectancy made for a great occasion - before a ball was even kicked.

September 1992 remains etched in Donegal hearts as the year of glory, when, under Brian McEniff’s guidance, Donegal finally shed years of heartbreak and lifted the Sam Maguire Cup. It took until 2012 for Sam to return to the hills, and now, in 2025, Donegal once again stands on the cusp of greatness. But standing in their way is a determined and talented Meath team, who will be eager to spoil the party in the upcoming All-Ireland semi-final. Victory would bring the reward of a final meeting with either Tyrone or Kerry.

At half-time last Saturday, with Donegal trailing by seven points, few in the stadium could have predicted the turnaround to come. Monaghan had been the better side in a gripping first half, playing superb football with flair and effectiveness. Donegal were off-colour, and truthfully fortunate not to concede another goal in that chastening opening period. But the second half told a different story.

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Donegal came out like a team transformed - fired up, focused, and ferocious. Monaghan didn’t know what hit them. One of the defining features of this Donegal side is their extraordinary ability to respond to adversity. In last year’s Ulster final, they clawed back from four points down to win on penalties. For a relatively young team, their belief and composure are remarkable. It’s what you might call “bottle” - and every Donegal man, woman and child in Croke Park was bursting with pride.

Few things unify a county like sport, and the shared joy among the Donegal faithful after the final whistle was something to behold. Jones’s Road was awash with smiles, celebration and green and gold flags. To turn a seven-point deficit into a six-point victory is the mark of an outstanding team performance. It was arguably one of Donegal’s finest showings at GAA Headquarters.

Shane O’Donnell delivered another superb display, though Michael Langan pushed him all the way for man of the match honours. Langan’s goal was the defining score of the game - brilliantly created by a sublime pass from Michael Murphy. Murphy, under fierce Monaghan pressure, showed immense composure to toe-poke the ball into his own hands in a moment of class and calm.

Credit too must go to Jim McGuinness and his backroom team, who managed the game shrewdly from the line. The introduction of county captain Paddy McBrearty proved a masterstroke. His impact was immediate and immense, combining work rate, leadership and presence. Likewise, Daire Ó Baoill from Gweedore made a strong impression, winning quality ball and using it wisely.

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This was Donegal at their awesome best - resilient, ruthless and relentless. Now the focus shifts to the semi-final. Meath, for their part, have built a formidable résumé in this year’s championship, already dispatching Dublin, Kerry and Galway. The Royal County are famous for its championship pedigree, often rising from the shadows to mount serious challenges.

But Donegal fans wouldn’t want to be anywhere else than back in Croke Park on Sunday week. Those exceptional supporters, as they did on Saturday, will again lift their team with noise, colour, and unwavering passion.

And maybe - just maybe - the dream of Sam coming home once more will take one step closer to reality.