David Clifford conundrum is one that Donegal can solve insists Eamon McGee

Eamon McGee says Donegal will rely on their shape as much as they’ll lean on Brendan McCole when attempting to shut down David Clifford.

The 2012 All-Ireland winner admits that a small part of him is envious of the fact that some of the Class of 2014 will get the opportunity to exorcise a ghost of sorts when they once again tangle with the Kingdom on All-Ireland final day.

McGee watched on at Tyrone’s efforts to shut down Kerry ace Clifford but he expects Donegal to take a much different approach to that futile Red Hand one.

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“I was at the Glenswilly ‘Up for the Match’ event and myself, big Neil Gallagher and Peter Canavan were having this exact same conversation.

“They were of the view that Donegal were going to look to tie up individuals and I was just disagreeing with that.

“I think McGuinness, and this current version, are more about shape than system. Out of possession and that sort of zonal defence and set-up, it’s linked in and so important to how they attack as well.

“I don’t think Jim will veer too far from that. Of course, Brendan McCole will go up against Clifford and he’ll do his best. But the defensive shape will also be very fluid in knowing just where both those guys are.

“I think one more, at most, probably Paudie Clifford or a Seanie O’Shea, will be tagged. I just don’t see Jim going after the three because – like I said – he won’t want to interfere too much with what Donegal offer on the front foot.”

Hindsight is looking back at the path already walked and McGee says being wise after the fact can be unfair when analysing tactical approaches.

But he says there is cold learning for Donegal to be taken from just how wrong Tyrone got it a fortnight ago.

“Some were critical of Tyrone and it’s easy to do that when the dust settles. But Malachy O’Rourke is on record as saying they looked to shut Clifford down by going after the supply line.

“But Brian Kennedy and Conn Kilpatrick out there, they are not the most mobile. And if you’re going to go after the supply, you need to be dynamic. And I just thought Tyrone didn’t turn the screw in that sense, out the field.

“To be honest, I felt they hung poor Padraig Hampsey out to dry because of that. I just don’t see Jim and Donegal doing that same thing to McCole.”

McGee says that still doesn’t make life simple for Donegal’s full-back and that he’s still going to have to be at his absolute best in a duel that has more potential than anything else to decide Sunday’s outcome.

“Where I’m at, the football part of me can’t wait to see how McCole gets on. I’ve raved about Brendan for so long now, I just think he hasn’t got the credit he deserves.

“People are saying David Clifford is the best there’s ever been so it’s going to be fascinating to see all of that.

“There is another part of me that is just so nervous about it and doesn’t care what kind of spectacle it is as long as Donegal win.

“But Brendan, he’s better than I ever was and the best compliment I can pay him is that he’s right up there now beside Neil.

“For me, people talk about Murphy and for obvious reasons. Michael is our greatest ever player. But I think McCole and Shaun Patton right now are just irreplaceable.

“Take them out of that team and it just wouldn’t be the same.”

Murphy magic

Meanwhile, McGee says he can’t find the right superlative to do Murphy’s return any kind of justice.

And he says the Donegal talisman, alongside Clifford, are the only two horses left in the race to be crowned Footballer of the Year.

“The work Michael put in, he’d have worked his balls off before even thinking about stepping foot in Convoy last winter.

“He’d have chatted to Jim and I’m sure they’d have had to have had some idea of how they were going to use Michael, or to best utilise him.

“But all that would have changed given the level he has actually reached. I mean he’s nearly 36 now but he’s covering as much ground as ever. It’s quite amazing really, when you think about it.

“There are times, in my own head, I’m thinking, ‘Michael, you don’t need to do that, take a breather’.

“But it doesn’t take a flinch out of him. I can’t begin to imagine the amount of work he’d done, quietly and away from it all, to be doing what he’s doing now.

“This game is a straight shootout for Sam Maguire but I also think it’s a straight shootout for Footballer of the Year between Michael and Clifford.”

Ahead of Sunday, McGee admits that what felt like suppressed heartache has now been exhumed with a lot of attention refocused back on 2014’s final defeat to Kerry.

McGee, though, says those Donegal players still with the scars to show from over a decade now have a real chance to draw a line of sorts and move on.

“There’s a part of me that is just jealous that the likes of Murphy, Paddy McBrearty, Ryan McHugh and even Jim, Colm McFadden and Neil have the chance to almost bury that 2014 thing.

“Because the more people start to talk about it this week and the more it crops back up, it still sticks at you.

“So this is a chance to not make up for it but to just draw a line perhaps and move on.”