Donegal are exactly where they want to be - Stephen Griffin

“I think they are going exactly as how they want to be going, in that they are not flying and they are not going bad.” That is how former Donegal player, Stephen Griffin, sums up Donegal as they go to play Kildare in Carlow in their penultimate league encounter for 2024.

Griffin knows all about Donegal under Jim McGuinness, as he was part of the panel in the first coming.

“You don’t know what’s going on behind the scenes. There could be a lot  of training going on because you can see it in games, they are flying for minutes and then they’re dead. But that’s what happens in league football. I would think they are exactly where they want to be. 

“They are moving nicely and obviously they almost have promotion in the bag now and that’s a big one.

“They’ll be hoping to get that wrapped up (this weekend) and that will give them a nice run into the Derry game (in the championship),” says Griffin.

The only worry for Donegal says the St Naul’s player manager is injuries.

“That would be the big one. They are missing some really, really good players like Eoghan Bán Gallagher. I’m sure that’s more a concern than anything else. They will want to get them  cleared up. Some of them boys that are out need game time before the Derry game. That is probably their biggest concern, but you don’t know. Jim (McGuinness) says they are close so hopefully they are not too far away.

“If they can get to a league final that will give some of those boys game time, especially players like Jason (McGee) and Eoghan Bán.

“If they get that cleared up and they get a nice run in to Derry, I’m sure they will be sitting exactly where they want to be.”
https://www.donegallive.ie/news/gaa/1448320/oisin-mogan-stands-tall-as-abbey-s-foot-soldier-emerges-from-the-shadows-to-shine.html

But apart from the injuries Griffin feels that McGuinness knows what he is doing.

“They are trying different players in different positions and Jim is trying to find a settled team. He’s not far away from it in his own mind, but he is trying different things.

“You saw at the last game (against Louth) he shuffled different players back into the full-back line when Brendan (McCole) was injured, which is not a bad thing. It is not always plan A so he is covering his cards so that if something happens down the line, at least he is not picking something out of the blue.”

Griffin also mentioned the fact that his other club man, Peadar Mogan ended up at corner-back against Louth.

“Yeah, I was saying to him, I know where I will play you now in the club championship. He was saying it’s a scary place at times. But it’s good for him.”

Griffin has also been impressed with the performances of young Ciaran Moore. “Even when we played them in the club championship I was really impressed by him. He is a super,  super athlete. He’s like a rocket, speed wise. You need that to break lines. He’s got the power and the pace and now he is getting the experience. He could be a player come summer when the pitches get drier. I wouldn’t like to be running after him, put it that way.”

As for playing Caolan McGonagle at centre-half back, Griffin didn’t see that coming.

“It was kind of a surprise. I was wondering who he might use in that centre-back role. Any game I’ve been at, I have been hugely impressed with him. He is such a monster of a man and when he gets on the ball and gets moving, he picks up serious speed then. How do you stop him? He’s 6’4’’ and maybe 14-15 stone.

“He's been there now for a good few years and he is experienced. He’s definitely made that position his own now. He is some option to have.”

The other factor to the new-look Donegal is their scoring power and Griffin feels the game has changed in that regard.

“You can see that they are playing a positive style of football. You can see from the pressing they are doing on the kick-out, it’s a risk v reward kind of thing. Obviously that is in fine tuning at the moment. But from what I’ve seen, it’s a case of ‘we’re going to beat you, rather than we’ll see where the game goes’.

“Football has changed now. I would say Jim has more confidence in himself now. He knows what he’s about. He’s saying this is what I’m doing and I don’t really care. You can’t sit back now and hope to win games,” said Griffin, who agreed players will enjoy that style more.

He is hopeful that Donegal can continue their run this Saturday against Kildare in Carlow.

“You would hope that they will beat Kildare this weekend and that would get them to the Division 2 League final.

“I remember us getting to Croke Park in 2011 to play Laois in the League final. It’s all small building blocks.

“They have a three week break then to Derry. Hopefully they can get over Kildare now and tick that box and then they can try things in the last few games.”

From a St Naul’s viewpoint, Griffin has to manage without his three stars during the All-County League.

“It is what it is. We’re immensely proud to have three lads of that standard. To be fair they are brilliant lads. But when you’re managing in the league, we know it’s awkward without them.

“If Donegal lost Brendan McCole, he’s a massive loss to Donegal. And Peadar (Mogan) and Gavin (Mulreany) are the same. On our side of things it’s multiplied. But we know we’re without them and we just get on with it.

“And when they come back, you get a massive lift. The lads are down with us some nights when we’re training. Every team is missing players. You just get on with it and try your best.”

For Griffin himself, he will still be one of the mainstays of the St Naul’s team, who spent last weekend on a bonding trip to London where they played a challenge game against St Kiernan’s.