Amidst all the celebrations of Donegal blowing away one of the country’s most fancies teams, Jim McGuinness was keeping his feet on the ground.
Yes he was posing for pictures and doing interviews, but the Glenties man more plans up his sleeve than Taylor Swift has dresses in her wardrobe.
One swallow certainly doesn’t make a summer and a trip to Kingspan Breffni Park to study Cavan and Tyrone is the only thing on McGuinness’ mind today.
The winner of that game will face Donegal next Sunday.
And he knows that Derry could well rear their head in his team’s rear view mirror later in the campaign.
“The Ulster Championship will always be the number one for myself anyway, I’m trying to instil that in the boys as well and I don’t think that’s a hard job,” he said.
“They’re special nights and I’m just delighted that we were able to bring the level that was required because Derry are a phenomenal team. One swallow doesn’t make a summer from our point of view.
“Derry will be there, I have no doubt about that, at the business end of the season, with Dublin and Kerry. For us, it’s a victory, it puts us into the next round and that’s the most important and pleasing thing.”
The master tactician was pleased how his team responded in the balmy April sunshine in Derry’s backyard.
He was especially happy that his side managed to take their chances and punish the mistakes made by Mickey Harte’s men.
“They took them [the goals] well when they came. Those transitional moments are hard-got now in the game. I was delighted even in the second half when we got turnovers close to our own goal, the passion and the drive was there to get up the field and support each other. Those bits and pieces were very pleasing.”
“It’s a step along the road. I played in a Donegal team when we won the All-Ireland and the Ulster Championship in the first year and we never won another Ulster Championship after that, so football can give you a lot of reality checks.
“It’s fantastic to watch Cavan and Tyrone and to have our business done, that is a good feeling. The turnaround is very tight, we’ve had six months to prepare for this one and a week to prepare for the next one.
“We’re excited about the next round. We won’t be looking beyond that game because once you start doing that, you get a bloody nose. For us, it’s important to try and build on this, try and build on the energy, hopefully it adds to the confidence level, and take the next step on the road as it comes.
