Mac's View: Wonderful display from Donegal against Dubs in Croke Park

It was simply a wonderful display from the Donegal team in Croke Park on Saturday night against the Dubs and the final scoreline didn’t reflect our dominance.

I know we had a strong team out for the occasion but if you are going to play Dublin in Croke Park there is no point in going light.

It was a horrible night for football with the wind and rain blowing into the Hogan and Canal End. It wasn’t easy to play football but the final scoreline of 1-20 is a very good return.

I really enjoyed that Malone man (Shea Malone), he took his goal so well. He is a natural goalscorer the way he got the ball from his hand to foot so quickly. He didn’t give his marker a chance to get in a block.

And what about Michael Langan, who gave a display that was a joy to watch. I first saw him in a league game for St Michael’s in Bundoran years ago and he beat us on his own. He is such an elegant player and has that self-confidence. He has developed into one of the top footballers in the country and is a great asset to Donegal, especially around the middle of the field where he can field the ball with the best.

Our goalkeeper Gavin Mulreany also did very well and his confidence is growing all the time. He kicked a couple of great two pointers and remember this was his first senior outing in Croke Park. He did play there as a minor back in 2016 against Galway.

But by and large the whole team is playing very, very well at the moment. That’s four games on the trot now and winning is such a great habit.

There was a bit of talk about Jim’s interview afterwards where he reacted to a question about the All-Ireland final tactics. I can understand where he is coming from as he has been asked the same question after each game in Ulster and he probably is beginning to lose patience with journalists returning to the same topic.

Some people like showing up things and there’s no need for it at all. I understand where Jim reacted on Saturday night but after watching his side give such a good performance sometimes it’s better to say nothing at all. But then that’s not Jim’s way.

I also saw where Jack O’Connor, the Kerry manager, was giving out about this new rule where the ball is brought forward 50 metres if it is not handed back when a free is awarded. I have to concur with Jack on this. I think the punishment is way over the top. What's wrong with dropping the ball and moving away. Ours is a physical game and over the last few months, especially in club games, this rule has decided games at the very end. It also puts the referee in a very difficult position to make a judgement on whether the ball is being handed back or, as was the case on Sunday, was knocked out of the opposing player’s hand.

Anyway, after last weekend I’m looking forward to Ballyshannon on Sunday and seeing these Clifford men up close. I know Paudie wasn’t part of the squad last weekend against Roscommon but he is a big part of the twosome. When he is playing, David is more dangerous.

I was surprised to hear that we have lost the last four encounters against Kerry in Fr Tierney Park and you have to go back to 1990 and 1989 to get our only two victories over the Kingdom at that venue. I remember Manus Boyle kicking the winner in 1989 from the sideline. He had nerves of steel for that type of kick.

Back in 1989, Kerry had a young Maurice Fitzgerald playing and the great Jacko (Jack O’Shea) was still there.

We certainly owe Kerry one for the recent league meetings at the venue and we owe them one for the All-Ireland final in Croke Park last July.

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I’m hearing there will be a sell-out crowd in Fr Tierney Park with the capacity now up to 9,000. Hopefully, we will get a good day weatherwise and the pitch on the Rock should be in good condition.

We have a good record at the venue, Kerry games apart. Kerry always produce good footballers. It’s as if they grow them on trees. So we can expect a good game on Sunday. They had only six of their starting All-Ireland team on show against Roscommon last weekend but I would expect they will travel stronger this weekend.

We will have to be ready for them and with most of the crowd shouting for Donegal I expect that we can add another couple of league points and put us in a good position. With only three home games this year it’s important that we win those three at home.

Brian McEniff was in conversation with Peter Campbell