Setting the early tone was the foothold Donegal needed - Peadar Mogan 

Peadar Mogan says Donegal were intent on going after the middle sector battle as they spectacularly turned the tables on All-Ireland champions Kerry on Sunday. 

Jim McGuinness’ side went toe to toe with the Kingdom at Croke Park in the Division 1 NFL final and dominated the first-half kick-out exchanges to eventually go in 0-13 to 1-2 in front. 

READ NEXT: Donegal end 19-year wait for Division 1 title with dominant win over Kerry 

Kerry opened with the first two points on the resumption but a brilliant scoring blitz of 3-6, uninterrupted, opened up an unassailable 21-point gap nearing the hour mark. 

And Mogan agreed it was the aggression the likes of Jason McGee, Michael Langan, Caolan McGonagle and Hugh McFadden brought to matters there that allowed Donegal to play most of the contest on their terms. 

“We struggled in the All-Ireland final on our kick-outs and theirs,” said Mogan. “But we did well in the first-half and we got a foothold in the game. 

“We done that and we played the game on our terms. Last year, in the final, they got the foothold and dictated the thing. 

“That’s the game now. It goes from there and it can be very hard to reel that momentum in if the other side gets it first”. 

He added: “Losing an All-Ireland final is never nice but it was the manner in which we lost it that didn’t sit well. 

“We didn’t show up in the first 20 minutes and played catch-up for the remainder. Of course, you dwell on it over the winter until you get going again”.

And while Donegal have designs on much bigger prizes come summer, Mogan said it’s still a significant medal to add to the haul. 

“It’s lovely. It might not be what you set out aiming for at the start of the year. But once you find yourself in the position where you’re in the reckoning, it’s there to go for. 

“It was just nice to come up here and get a result. It’s a nice boost in the lead-in to the championship”. 

Mogan says a number of youngsters also enhanced their growing reputations even further and didn’t look out of place in the Kerry glare at HQ. 

“Max Campbell came in and did so well. He also got two points. It was at his ease. Sean Martin, Shea Malone and Conor McCahill have also seen game time and not looked out of place. 

“They have been a breath of fresh air. Theory didn’t have that baggage from last season and so they brought a real energetic lift from the very off".