WHILE JIM MCGUINNESS was considering his future as Donegal manager in the wake of last month’s All-Ireland final, Odhran MacNiallais says some of the players had a “funny feeling he might go another year.”
In the end, McGuinness chose to step down after four years where he completely transformed the face of Donegal football. Before he took over they were Ulster’s soft touch, but he left them as a steely bunch of winners who understood exactly how far hard work and sacrifice could get you.
It wasn’t easy for them to watch him go.
“It’ll be a tough one not having him there, training and all. It’ll be so different but there’s nothing we can do about that.
“I’ve only been there two years, but the rest of the boys have been there four or five years. To have played and trained under a man like that, the joy and success he’s brought to Donegal, for him to leave – Eamon McGee described it as like the woman walking out on you.”
MacNiallais was a relative newcomer to the Donegal camp this year, having spent last season, his first in the senior set-up, watching from the bench where he “wasn’t really part of it.” 12 months later he was nominated for an Allstar at midfield, signalling how far he’s come in such a short space of time.
He made his debut in the Dr McKenna Cup in January, and went on to play a part in every Donegal game this year. McGuinness filled him with self-belief and improved his work-rate, to such an extent that MacNiallais credits his former manager with turning him into an inter-county player.
“What he’s done for me personally is massive. Two or three years ago I was playing under-21 for the county but I don’t think I would have had it to go and play senior only for him.
“He kind of pushed me on to become a senior footballer and I can’t thank him enough for that. It was massive for me. It’ll be weird now not having him there but we’ll just have to get on with it. Hopefully he’ll be back.
“Work rate was never one of my biggest attributes. I was never fit or worked hard. I suppose he more or less told me I wouldn’t make it unless I got that into my game.”
Such is the belief Donegal have in their messiah, that MacNiallais has no doubt the Glenties native could go on to manage Glasgow Celtic in the future.
“Definitely – I don’t see what not. What he’s done to this Donegal team. When you look back to 2010 the state, the position this Donegal team were in, they were down and out and he turned that around completely. I don’t see why he couldn’t manage Celtic.”
You actually answered your own question there. The answer is support..through think and thin. Through ups and downs. That is what a real supporter does
Well done connacht.
Brilliant performance. Particularly second half into a gale. Pure passion. Would’ve been be very sad to see them not win a game in the pool.
Well done Connacht- a victory of heart over wallet! A determined and committed team that deserve a lot more success! Also great that 3 provinces are through- and as an Ulster man thanks for that ;D Eiré abú!
YEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :D :D :D
Three times as many Irish teams as other home nations i believe in Q F’s
Home nations? What home is that horse? Home of what exactly? Feck off to the BBC with your “home nations” boyo.
Thumbs down all you want, but anyone using the term “home nations” can only be a west brit.
From Wikipedia: Home Nations is a collective term with one of two meanings depending on the context. Politically, it means the nations of the constituent countries
of the United Kingdom
(England
, Northern Ireland
,Scotland
and Wales
). In sport, if a sport is governed by a council representing the island of Ireland
, such as the Irish Rugby Football Union
, the term can refer to the nations of the constituent countries on the island of Great Britain
(England, Scotland and Wales) and the collective Irish nation. This dual meaning has persisted in existence despite the partition of Ireland in 1922 as historically the term included all ofIreland
, which between 1800 and 1922 was wholly a part of the United Kingdom. The term home countries (not to be confused with the “home counties
“) is also sometimes used, and is synonymous.[1]
What a load of horse manure. That’s like saying “I don’t like black people but I’m not a racist”
they are on the verge here!
What do you care?
fair ple diobh. Dylan rodgers told me last week in trevor Brennans pub to put my house on a connacht victory… shoulda listened to him…
Hell or Connacht? Poor Quins got both.
Mike Mc Carthy and Muldoon would want to be getting a look in with performances like that
With the Ireland squad that is
in any other sport and with any other team, massive questions would be asked of a team going for a 15th loss in a row. A run only matched by Galway United in recent memory.It is truly bizarre that the fans continue to blindly support this team. It is not admirable, it is not brave and will only contribute to their continued role as whipping boys. Best of luck to them tonight as I really do think they deserve a win. They have performed well against way bigger budgest but at what stage do you, as a supporter, say enough is enough. Something has to change. Again, best of luck to them tonight.
What a silly comment
Mayo GAA anyone?!! Supporters suffering many disappointments on big days, yet still some of the best supporters in the country. Emmo you obviously don’t understand the concept of being a true supporter, you don’t just turn your back when the things get tough.
Wimmin
Absolute rubbish comment, fails to understand meaning of “Supporter”
The West’s awake – the West’s awake!
If Muldoon & Mc Carthy producing displays like that week in and week out, they would get a look. Consistency is the key.
I feel sorry for Connor O Shea. He deserved a quarter final place after the win in Toulouse.
I think losing to Toulouse at the Stoop coupled with a loss in Galway has handed Quins exactly what they deserve really. One Swallow does not a summer make.,.
Fair enough. But still would like to see oshea do well.
Great win, my nerves are shot after that finish, great to see a full house in Galway as well. Might not be the best team in the country but our supporters will rival anyone. Best of luck to Ulster, Leinster and Munster for the rest of the competition
Oppps! ( famous refrain of US presidential hopefuls) that one’s been done!
The West awake!