'Jim McGuinness has brought accountability back to Donegal' - Aaron Kernan

Former Armagh player Aaron Kernan believes that the accountability and buy-in that Jim McGuinness has back into the Donegal squad, which was absent last season, is one of the major factors that sees the county make an immediate return to Division 1. 

The Orchard County face Donegal this Sunday in Croke Park in the Division 2 decider, and while the Armagh legend believes both sides are the two deserving teams to get promoted from Division 2, he notes that compared to other years, the competition in the second tier wasn’t as strong as other years. 

“I think at the start of the year Donegal were in the exact same position as Armagh, we just didn’t know how they were going to do this season. I felt in Armagh there would be a bit of a hangover from last year and they wouldn’t be able to reach the heights again.  

“I felt the same about Donegal, there was a bit of mystery around them and how Jim was going to get on, but they’ve hit the ground running, and nobody caused them any bother in the league. 

“Now I think we have to be real and say, I don’t think the quality was there in Division 2. I thought it was going to be tougher, and while both teams played good football in the league, there’s only so much you can take out of the opposition they were playing against. 

“Like in years gone by, that division was definitely a lot harder but in fairness to both teams I think they’ve established that they deserve to be in Division 1 next year and their results show that.” 

For Kernan, he complements the change of style that McGuinness has brought into the team, which sees his side perform a more running and fast-moving game on the ball, while adding a high press to the opposition off the ball.  

“What I was most impressed about is how much Donegal have changed their style of play this year from previous seasons. 

“For Donegal, I think if you look at the first 10 minutes of their opening match against Cork, that will give you a good indication of how much Donegal have changed their mindset. I would be all for how Jim wants his team to play,” said Kernan. 

“If Jim has done anything, he’s brought accountability back to players. You can see he is forcing his players, especially the forwards, to work just as hard without the ball as they do on the ball. And if you have a collective buy-in, which it looks like they do, then anything is possible, Jim showed that the last time he managed them.” 

Donegal will be without captain Patrick McBrearty this weekend following an injury he picked up against Meath, while Ryan McHugh, who also went off injured, is noted as being okay for the moment. 

And while questions were raised as to why McGuinness started one of his best teams in a dead-rubber match, Kernan feels it was for his best panel to have more time playing together and build momentum. 

“It’s very hard to get into the mind of a manager but I believe it’s very important for momentum to play as strong a panel as you have every game, provided the players aren’t carrying any injuries. Like picking up injuries, that’s just part and parcel of playing sport. 

“Losing Patrick is going to be a major setback for Donegal, but you still can’t underestimate what plan Jim might have up his sleeve in his absence. Both teams will be gunning to win this league on Sunday, there’s no doubt about that.”