DONEGAL manager Jim McGuinness says his side is ready for the challenge of Tyrone in Clones on Saturday week – insisting Mickey Harte’s men won’t catch Donegal on the hop.
“Everyone knows what we are going in against with a team that has won three All-Irelands in 10 year and we have to prepare for that and get our gameplan and squad ready,” said Jim.
“It’s one we’ll look forward to, we have worked hard to get into this position — we’re only 70 minutes from a final and we’re just happy to be there. If Tyrone beat us it’s not because they will catch us on the hop. We know what lies ahead — they are one of the top teams in the country.
“Mickey is starting to build a new team but has a lot of the old guard there as well, who played extremely well the last day and probably made the difference. It’s for us to prepare as best we can.”
Retaining their Ulster title will be tough, he admitted, but Donegal’s win over Derry and new offensive challenge alongside our defensive capabilities are making last year’s critical pundits sit up and take notice.
But the challenge of back-to-back titles is willing on his players.
Said Jim: “It’s important because Ulster titles are extremely difficult to win. We haven’t won many and our players respect the competition hugely. To add another medal would be an unbelievable achievement and there’s a bigger picture outside that — but the Ulster Championship will always be very special.
“That’s true for the players too because they stood in dressing rooms three or four times, beaten in Ulster finals and carrying that around with them for years.
“We have to look it in the eye and see what can we do to get another victory and get to the final. If we could manage that, it would be a fantastic achievement.”
Donegal v Tyrone is at Clones on Saturday week. Throw-in 4.30pm.
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