After yesterday’s announcement that Declan Bonner has left his role as Donegal manager, we’ve looked back at his time in charge.
The Na Rossa clubman has had a long relationship with the county’s senior side, spanning from his playing career, winning the 1992 All-Ireland with the county, to having managed the side on two separate occasions.
Bonner’s most recent spell in charge began with positives, but the county has now went three years without an Ulster title in what has been a strong Donegal squad.
The 56-year-old Bonner took over for his second spell in charge of his native county in late 2017, following Rory Gallagher’s unsuccessful three year reign as the Donegal boss, in which he failed to win an Ulster title with Donegal having won three of the previous four.
But Bonner came in and while it took time, with the team suffering Division 1 relegation, gave the squad a bit of new found life in the Championship, and in his first year he took the Anglo-Celt Cup back to the Hills of Donegal.
In 2018 Donegal came through the preliminary round and defeated Cavan, Derry, Down and Fermanagh, all by a margin of six points or more, scoring a brilliant 8-76 in their four games.
Going into the inaugural super 8s, Donegal needed to defeat Tyrone in Ballybofey to reach the semi-final of the 2018 All-Ireland competition, but ultimately it went wrong as Tyrone came out victorious.
2019 proved more promising again, with the side getting promoted back to Division 1 and winning back-to-back Ulster titles for only the second time ever.
Donegal overcame last years finalists Fermanagh in the quarters, before beating the 2018 All-Ireland runners-up Tyrone, and then took a five point win over Cavan in the final.
Things were looking promising again in the Super 8s, as a win over Meath in Ballybofey before a draw with Kerry in Croke Park meant they had to avoid defeat to Mayo in Castlebar.
But Bonner’s side wasted chances and were six points down at the break with a mountain to climb, which they could not overcome and once again with a semi-final in their grasp, things went south for the Tír Chonaill men.
In 2020, a mid-table finish in the league was nothing to complain or celebrate.
But then, with COVID-19 restrictions preventing the Provincial Championships from taking place at their usual time, there was no back door and subsequently no second chance after a defeat.
Donegal had a hard draw of Tyrone in the quarter-finals but squeezed past, followed by a strong win over Armagh and with Cavan to play in the final, many believed Donegal were going to win their first ever 3-in-a-row.
But the underdogs came out in the second half, limiting Donegal to just three scores as they won only their second Ulster title in 53 years by 1-13 to 0-12.
For 2021, while winning the Division 1 North section (split due to COVID), Dublin and Kerry both advanced to the final with The Dubs beating Donegal in Clones.
Bonner’s side were unfortunate to be drawn such a tough Ulster path. A preliminary win over Down followed by a one point win over Derry saw them face Tyrone in the semi-finals.
A missed penalty and a red card in a day to forget for Michael Murphy would see Donegal fail to reach the final for the first time in four years as they were knocked out by the eventual All-Ireland Champions.
A fourth place finish in Division 1 in 2022 may be flattering considering it was a must win game over Armagh for survival.
But a more convincing win over the Orchard Men in the Championship, followed by victory over Cavan, saw Donegal face Derry in the Ulster final.
With the game having to go the whole way to extra-time, Derry took the lead and were refusing to let their advantage go as they won by two points to win their first Ulster Championship in 24 years.
With Armagh to play in the qualifier, many fans were expecting Donegal to beat them for the third time in 2022, but Donegal were undone by two Armagh goals in the first half and then they capitulated in the second half as they bowed out of the Championship early once again
