“Karl (Lacey) is definitely gone. Neil (Gallagher) is definitely gone and everybody else is fit. It’s more disappointing for Karl than anything else, he’s worked so hard to get back into it.
“He said to me after the game against Tyrone that the 20/25 minutes were more beneficial than the 12 or 13 training session he did before that. Just being in that environment where you had to think for yourself and the intensity of it.
“He came on and settled the (Tyrone) game down at a very important part. So it’s disappointing he wasn’t able to carry that forward.”
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2. The attacking threat of Down
“We’ve got six Down forwards on Sunday to watch and that’s the reality. Ambrose (Rogers) is big, strong, he’s a threat from kick outs at wing forward. Mark Poland is a creative ball player. (Niall) Madine came on the last day and kicked three points.
“(Donal) O’Hare has probably been their best player this year I would suggest throughout the league. Benny Coulter, Conor Laverty, every one of them is asking a different question. There’s a lot of quality there going forward and we’re going to have to be on our guard to try and manage that.”
3. Attitude towards the league
“People have talked about the League and disrespected it. The league’s very important for us in terms of getting back on the horse again, experimenting with new systems and looking for players. The big plus from the (Tyrone) game would have been Ross Wherity in terms of a player that we tried to develop through the league.
“We didn’t prioritise it (the league). You’ve got to say, ‘What do we want out of it?’ I’d prefer to get Ross Wherity to come through that process and have a player at the end of the League than put my first 15 out that started the All-Ireland final and win it.”
Donegal’s Ross Wherity in action against Tyrone
Pic: INPHO/James Crombie
4. Baffled by Donegal club championship scheduling
“I think we’re the only team in Ulster at the moment that’s playing championship club football. We played Tyrone, the week after that we play club championship, the week after that we play club championship. If we win on Sunday and we go to the final, the week after that we play championship within the county.
“That’s not including the seventh game for the two teams that were involved because of the All-Ireland Gaeltacht. It hasn’t been ideal. In terms of preparation, it’s the one thing that means an awful lot to us. If you feel you’ve half got the message through the wheels could come off.”
5. Finding employment for the Donegal players
“We have got them all employed, we worked very hard on that. We would like now to try and get them into jobs where there is a bit of security if they want to get married or get a mortgage. For some of them that is not the case at the moment.
“If they are happy then that will translate into the training pitch and then hopefully the playing pitch. We know we are asking the players to sacrifice a lot and we know in many respects they are putting their life on hold to play county football.
“I’d imagine they are more marketable for companies and stuff. I think the attitude towards the team has been changing over the last couple of years. The Donegal public, at home and abroad, has got a lot out of this team.
“We have been on a great journey with them. I think the people of Donegal appreciate what the players are doing for them and for that reason I think they are looking after them.”
Jim McGuinness on Karl Lacey's injury, attitude to the league and jobs for Donegal players
1. Losing Karl Lacey to injury again
“Karl (Lacey) is definitely gone. Neil (Gallagher) is definitely gone and everybody else is fit. It’s more disappointing for Karl than anything else, he’s worked so hard to get back into it.
“He said to me after the game against Tyrone that the 20/25 minutes were more beneficial than the 12 or 13 training session he did before that. Just being in that environment where you had to think for yourself and the intensity of it.
“He came on and settled the (Tyrone) game down at a very important part. So it’s disappointing he wasn’t able to carry that forward.”
2. The attacking threat of Down
“We’ve got six Down forwards on Sunday to watch and that’s the reality. Ambrose (Rogers) is big, strong, he’s a threat from kick outs at wing forward. Mark Poland is a creative ball player. (Niall) Madine came on the last day and kicked three points.
“(Donal) O’Hare has probably been their best player this year I would suggest throughout the league. Benny Coulter, Conor Laverty, every one of them is asking a different question. There’s a lot of quality there going forward and we’re going to have to be on our guard to try and manage that.”
3. Attitude towards the league
“People have talked about the League and disrespected it. The league’s very important for us in terms of getting back on the horse again, experimenting with new systems and looking for players. The big plus from the (Tyrone) game would have been Ross Wherity in terms of a player that we tried to develop through the league.
“We didn’t prioritise it (the league). You’ve got to say, ‘What do we want out of it?’ I’d prefer to get Ross Wherity to come through that process and have a player at the end of the League than put my first 15 out that started the All-Ireland final and win it.”
Donegal’s Ross Wherity in action against Tyrone
Pic: INPHO/James Crombie
4. Baffled by Donegal club championship scheduling
“I think we’re the only team in Ulster at the moment that’s playing championship club football. We played Tyrone, the week after that we play club championship, the week after that we play club championship. If we win on Sunday and we go to the final, the week after that we play championship within the county.
“That’s not including the seventh game for the two teams that were involved because of the All-Ireland Gaeltacht. It hasn’t been ideal. In terms of preparation, it’s the one thing that means an awful lot to us. If you feel you’ve half got the message through the wheels could come off.”
5. Finding employment for the Donegal players
“We have got them all employed, we worked very hard on that. We would like now to try and get them into jobs where there is a bit of security if they want to get married or get a mortgage. For some of them that is not the case at the moment.
“If they are happy then that will translate into the training pitch and then hopefully the playing pitch. We know we are asking the players to sacrifice a lot and we know in many respects they are putting their life on hold to play county football.
“I’d imagine they are more marketable for companies and stuff. I think the attitude towards the team has been changing over the last couple of years. The Donegal public, at home and abroad, has got a lot out of this team.
“We have been on a great journey with them. I think the people of Donegal appreciate what the players are doing for them and for that reason I think they are looking after them.”
Check out the Sam Maguire Cup at the Sydney Harbour Bridge
Tyrone goalkeeper Morgan ruled out for the season with knee injury
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GAA 2013 Jim McGuinness Jobs League Donegal Down Ulster