Jim McGuinness relishing challenge to be posed by old friend Pádraic Joyce

Jim McGuinness will face his old friend and former team-mate Pádraic Joyce in the All-Ireland semi-final.

The meeting of Donegal and Galway, managed by McGuinness and Joyce, brings together the former Sigerson Cup-winning players.

In 1998, McGuinness and Joyce played central roles as IT Tralee won the Sigerson Cup – the second of what became a three-in-a-row for the Kerry college.

“We had great times together,” McGuinness reflected in his post match media conference after Donegal's 1-23 to 0-18 win over Louth.

“He is a great fella. He is a great football man and very driven. We have great memories from down in Tralee and I have always stayed in contact.

“I am looking forward to that because I know that one of us will progress to the final.

“The radio silence will kick in for a wee while. I might send him a cheeky text tonight but apart from that, that’ll be it for a fortnight.

“If we couldn't win it, I would be delighted for Pádraic and Galway to win it.”

Joyce won All-Irelands with Galway as a player in 1998 and 2001. On Saturday night, the Killererin clubman masterminded a seismic shock as Galway dumped Dublin, the Sam Maguire holders, out of the Championship.

The Tribesmen prevailed 0-17 to 0-16 in a huge come-from-behind win.

McGuinness watched the game on television in the company of the Donegal squad in their hotel base ahead of their own game the following day.

McGuinness was impressed by Galway's work.

He said: “I don't think many people would have given Galway a chance at half-time, but they did. They believed in themselves.

“They brought a huge amount of quality and composure to the game; and belief, the most important thing.

“It has been a challenging year in terms of injuries. I have spoken to him (Joyce) once or twice and he has been trying to shake them.

“He believes so much in his players so that will be a big challenge for us, but one that we have to relish.”

McGuinness did some work with Joyce's Galway squad in 2020. The county had just come out of Covid-19 lockdown and McGuinness was spotted taking a session with the Galway players in Tuam.

At the time, Joyce said: “Jim is a personal friend of mine and has been for years. I went to college with the man. I’d have huge respect for him, his CV speaks for itself.

“He’s an old friend of mine. We were in college together for years. We had plenty of nights out and plenty of craic and plenty of matches together. I know him really, really well.

“That’s the relationship. I’ve always stayed in touch with him over the years and we have been good friends and close friends.”