McShea's Say: Tactical ineptitude costs Donegal Ulster title

Donegal’s inability to deliver when the stakes are high as evidenced by defeat to Tyrone last year and Cavan a year earlier, was once again in evidence after what was simply a masterclass in a glaring lack of tactical awareness in Clones on Sunday when Derry were handed the Ulster title.

Defeat is always unpalatable, but harder to digest when a group of players are given a game plan such as the one displayed by Donegal in Clones. Some 48 hours after the final whistle I am still trying to understand why any team played with a tactical naivety which was simply criminal. 

This Ulster title was thrown away, and no number of excuses are acceptable. The hype about this Derry team was to a large degree exposed because Donegal, despite playing a brand of football which was ineffective and very hard to watch, were two points in front after 61 minutes. Derry were there for the taking. 

On Sunday, Donegal’s play was like asking Rory McIlroy to play golf with handcuffs on. Our best player Michael Murphy is unplayable for 70 minutes when located at full-forward, where he won us the All Ireland in 2012 and everyone but the Donegal management team know that.

 On Sunday, Donegal made the Derry full-back Brendan Rogers man of the match by deciding to play Murphy close to the Donegal goal, a decision which was simply unforgivable. 

Donegal were more than a little fortunate to get to half-time only three points in arrears, as Derry could have been out of sight at that stage. But when Derry were rocked by Donegal’s early second half goal, that was the time to go for the jugular and belatedly push Murphy to the edge of the Derry square.

It is fair to suggest that the Donegal’s sideline opted against such a move as the team only played two long balls into the Cavan defence and the result was two goals - it was no coincidence that on those occasions Murphy was close to the Cavan goal. 

Here's what the world of Twitter made of the Ulster final

Donegal went down to Derry in extra-time, 1-16 to 1-14, in Sunday's Ulster final and, as is the norm, the Tweet-machine had plenty to say

Last week, we suggested that lateral football was not the way to win anything but on Sunday it was worse than ever - it was dreadful to watch and lacking in creativity. 

It was also difficult to understand why Donegal did not make even one change in the first half when several players were struggling and worse still, some were not even showing for the ball. 

To my mind that is unforgivable and reputations should count for nothing if a player or players are not chasing. This defeat was a major disappointment for several reasons. Donegal have as many, if not more good players than Derry, but they were playing to a system which has cost them dearly in the past and only a handful of the team can have any positive memories of this final.

Peadar Mogan was again excellent in the first half when he brought the fight to Derry. His club mate Brendan McCole also had a fine match when he curbed Derry’s highly rated full-forward Shane McGuigan, who made little impact in general play. 

Murphy, as ever, played his heart out despite not getting the chance to hurt Derry where it counts - in attack. Odhrán McFadden Ferry battled all the way, while Hugh McFadden made a very positive impact when introduced.

Off the pitch Derry also outnumbered the Donegal supporters, and they were worthy winners of a poor game, and while not in any way taking away from their victory, the booing that many of their supporters engaged in throughout the match is something that is not to be welcomed. It was a let-down for many genuine Derry supporters. Two weeks from now Donegal are into the qualifiers and much will have to change if they are to have a sustained run in this championship. To say that the last three years were a disappointment would be a glaring understatement.