'To the moon and back': Odhran Doherty wants Donegal to shoot for the stars

With only 90 seconds of extra time to go in the Ulster final, Odhran Doherty found himself in the standing in the spotlight.

Goalkeeper Shaun Patton sprayed a delicious ball into Doherty, just in front of the Gerry Arthurs stand.

It is a kick Doherty has taken umpteen times in Naomh Conaill's colours. The stage here was different, but the execution was inch perfect.

The 28^th Infantry Battalion soldier floated over with a sniper's precision, taking the game to a penalty shoot-out in which Donegal defeated Armagh to seal the county's 11^th Ulster title.

“I was just told to make an impact,” Doherty said.

“Shaun Patton was in the pivot role and I saw him just kicking it towards me.

“I kind of had to take the shot. I was thinking: 'Don't miss this'. It felt natural to take the shot. You have to take the moment when it comes.

“It's something I've never experienced before. I was just told to keep doing what I was doing in training. There are going to be mistakes made in training, but you just have to limit them and use the energy you have.”

Doherty was just in double digits when Jim McGuinness first took the reigns in Donegal.

His showings last year in a testing campaign were among the faint positives for Donegal supporters and he believes McGuinness can take Donegal to greater heights.

“To the moon and back,” he beamed. “We know that we're a good side. We don't fear anyone. Jim has instilled that in us. We'll go now step by step and manage each game on its own. We'll give it our best shot.”

Donegal twice hit back from four points down in Clones to get their hands back on Ulster football's top prize.

Doherty was in the thick of it as the Donegal hoards burst onto the St Tiernach's Park turf.

He said: “It's special. Just being there and seeing all the supporters and everything after the final whistle.

“I've been to every game since I was a wee boy, maybe from when I was four or five, and see all the difficult times. Then, Jim came in in 2011 and I was lucky enough to be running out on the pitch. Being a player there for that was special.

“It's unbelievable the support that we have been getting, We'll look forward to seeing them all back out for the All-Ireland series.

“When you see all the superstars back in the day, the Michael Murphys, Colm McFaddens, Neil McGees, then you're working with them day-in, day-out, it's unbelievable. It's special to be a part of this team. I'm loving every minute of it.”