Jim McGuinness credits Donegal players for finding a way past Monaghan

RTÉ News​

28-06-2025

Jim McGuinness was delighted to see the decision not to make a raft of half-time changes against Monaghan pay off handsomly as his Donegal side wiped away a seven-point deficit at Croke Park to book their place in the All-Ireland SFC semi-finals.
At half-time in Saturday's all-Ulster quarter-final, Donegal trailed by seven points after a lacklustre first-half display.
However, McGuinness avoided the temptation to make any changes to personnel and saw his side take charge of the second '35 en route to a six-point victory.
Speaking to RTÉ Sport after the 1-26 to 1-20 triumph, McGuinness said he had trusted the starting side selected to turn Donegal's fortunes around.
"It's something we spoke about at half-time. It's one of those situations where you can do all the planning in the world and all the coaching but at the end of the day, you do end up in these moments in championship runs where everything is on the line and the players have to find a way," he said.
"And for that reason, we didn't make any changes. We left the same 15 go out there again and in fairness to them, to a man, they turned it around very, very well."
The way his players tackled the second half was particularly pleasing for the Donegal manager.
"The energy they brought to it as well was absolutely fantastic. Our decision-making was way better and we used the ball really well, and supported each other really well and we got in and we were dangerous," he said.
"There were a lot of positives. Obviously, there are a lot of things we need to look at in terms of the game overall in the first half, but listen, at this level of competition now, teams are going to ask serious questions of you and it's probably a situation where we were trying to stay in the game in those moments and then when your own moments come then, try and be clinical."
Michael Langan (above) came in for special praise having contributed the crucial second-half goal that helped swing the momentum further in Donegal's direction, and the impact of the midfield as a whole impressed McGuinness.
"He's a great player, he's a very stylish midfielder and he's very honest. He can do it both ways and brave," he said of Langan.
"He's very skilful on the ball so we're delighted to have him. Hughie (McFadden) has been immense for us all season and thankfully today Jason McGee went in there and had a big contribution in the second half.
"So that's very positive. It's very important around the middle of the park to try and keep your big men healthy and hopefully we will have Caolan McGonagle back for the next day."
McGuinness's counterpart Gabriel Bannigan was at a loss to explain Monaghan's capitulation. although losing the influential Ryan McAnespie to a hamstring injury after 40 minutes was a major blow.
"I'm bitterly disappointed and it certainly was a game of two halves from a Monaghan perspective," Bannigan said.
"We were brilliant in the first half and we were in a great position at half-time. We did talk at half-time about making sure we kept doing the things that got us into that position.
"But for some reason, in the second half things started to go against us. The momentum swung with Donegal and they got oxygen from that and we just couldn't stem the tide.
"When we did get opportunities, we were taking the wrong options or we were missing them."