Everybody loves a winner - and Jim McGuinness is a winner

The change in the mood in Donegal is palpable. When last did we go to Healy Park, Omagh and outnumber the Tyrone support? That’s what happened on Sunday last and a few days prior to that almost 4,000 turned up in MacCumhaill Park on a cold, frosty night to see Donegal play Armagh in the opening Dr McKenna Cup game.

One of those present to see both games was Letterkenny native Peter McIntyre, long-since domiciled in Bundoran, but with Gaelic Games still running deep in his blood.

Peter is enthusiastic when talking about the transformation and, like everyone else, knows that it is down to the return of Jim McGuinness.

“Young fellas are mad to play for him. Everybody wants to be in there. Everybody wants to see how he does it. He’s a Messiah in Donegal football. The sad reality of not just football, but of life, is that everybody wants to be with a winner.

“And Jim McGuinness has proved he is a winner. He’s going to push Donegal on and I think we are going to have a great year in Donegal football this year,” says McIntyre.

Peter McIntyre pictured with Kevin Sharkey at the game in Omagh on Sunday last Picture: Thomas Gallagher

The smile is back on the faces of supporters, says McIntyre. “Ah, the buzz of people talking at half-time. Everybody wants to be part of it, no negative chat at all.”

And the other big change which McIntyre has noticed is a more direct style of play. For the past number of years Donegal had plenty of possession but were reluctant or unable to make any great use of it and it ended with a lot of lateral play.

“He is doing a lot of kicking. It’s a new style of play. The big one for me was pushing up on the kick-outs. It’s a brilliant style, there’s no stepping back, even when we were winning,” said McIntyre, who agreed that Donegal were able to play controlled football at the end when that was needed.

“Morgan in the Tyrone goal in the first half was under pressure. 60 to 65% of the kick-outs were won by Donegal. That gives you a great platform.”

McIntyre also pointed to the fitness levels with Donegal in great shape for the time of year.

“I saw Peadar Mogan getting the ball in the 72nd minute, right in front of me, and he beat two Tyrone men in the tackle and flicked the ball on, and we had the ball for the last minute to see the game out. It was unbelievable, he was going as good in the last minute as he was in the first minute. And I would say all the players are the same.

“They all want to play for Jim, Neil and Colm Anthony. It’s absolutely brilliant.

“You would look forward to the Cork game in Ballybofey in the league. There will be a huge crowd at that. Jim McGuinness is going to put Donegal football back on the map again, there is no doubt about that.”

The difference in the support numbers is already huge and that is good not just for Donegal but for the GAA. Again it’s the Jim McGuinness factor.

“I would say I’m the same as everybody else. When you see 3,800 people in Ballybofey and the same in Omagh, it’s unreal. Kevin Sharkey was telling me he was at the opening game last year against Down, when we got beat by nine points and there was only a handful of Donegal supporters there.

“There was a massive crowd of Donegal supporters in Omagh. There’s a lot of GAA people out there and they are mad to get behind Jim and the boys, Colm Anthony (McFadden) and Neil (McGee).”

MAC'S VIEW: Donegal will use recent events as motivation going forward

All-Ireland winning manager Brian McEniff is happy with the opening games under Jim McGuinness and feels they are in good shape for opening of league

McIntyre also is pleased that Jim McGuinness has cast his net and is giving a lot of new fellas a chance. He particularly pointed out Kevin McGettigan, who did really well in his first two games, even though he is in his mid-20s.

“It’s great for Donegal football and he (Jim) is giving the young fellas a chance. I know he was harshly dealt with by the Ulster Council on the issue over young Roarty.

“It was a genuine mistake, but the one thing is that this will galvanise this team more,” said McIntyre.

On the issue of Finbarr Roarty, McIntyre feels it was a genuine mistake and there was never a case of trying to pull a fast one or try to gain an unfair advantage.

“I feel very sorry for the young fellow in all this. He had a brilliant game in Ballybofey against Armagh. But he has plenty of years ahead of him and it is great to see that we have that in Donegal football.

“There were a lot of people out there with their heads down but McGuinness has proved that there are plenty of footballers out there.

“The issue of young players not being able to play senior football is a problem for many small clubs. 

“It’s an absolutely crazy situation. There are boys playing in the Premier League in England every week and they are only 16 and 17. 

“You have to be a very special footballer to play at that level and you have to be well built. Young Roarty is a big strong man,” said McIntyre.

But the Bundoran man feels that the issue will not be a major distraction as Donegal have won all their three competitive games so far.

“The buzz there last Sunday in Omagh was unbelievable. Donegal had as much or even more support than Tyrone. It was amazing to be honest.

“The fact that they were 9-4 up and Tyrone came back to go a point up with seven minutes to go and then Donegal came back and scored the last three points. That was great.

“I’ll tell you one thing, you won’t go to a game this year that they won’t try, and that’s a great thing as a Donegal supporter.

“That’s the most important thing that I would take out of the first two games, I think every game Donegal plays this year, they will be pushing. The boys are pushing for places and that’s a massive thing to a manager.

“If you have everybody pushing in the same direction, it is a great thing for Donegal GAA.”

Donegal supporters are happy and Peter McIntyre is licking his lips for more action. He says he won’t be missing a game.

“It’s great to see the buzz back and the buzz is big.  Years ago you would have went in hope but now you go with confidence and that makes a big difference.”