Jim McGuinness was waiting to get into the dressing room to check the treatment table to properly gauge just where Donegal are at in terms of injuries.
Donegal powered through their preliminary round Ulster championship clash with Derry on Sunday, 1-25 to 1-15, to set up a quarter-final encounter with Monaghan in two weeks’ time.
Donegal led by seven at half-time at the weekend and even though Derry cut the lead to two early in the second period, the home side surged ahead again and never looked in trouble in the final quarter.
Michael Murphy started at the weekend as did Patrick McBrearty while the sight of Jason McGee coming into the fray late on was a very welcome bonus for the home support.
Still, the manager isn’t without his concerns ahead of their last-eight trip to Clones with Finnbarr Roarty and Odhran McFadden Ferry both departing the action against the Oak Leafers with knocks.
Shaun Patton also seemed to tweak a shoulder when he saved a first-half spot kick from Shane McGuigan. But McGuinness says his custodian shook that off and seemed fine after.
“He landed on it yeah, but he’s not injured,” McGuinness explained. “I would be more worried about Finnbarr.”
“He felt a bit tight in his hamstring and then he proceeded to sprint down the wing, sprint across, support the ball, win the ball, give the ball, sprint again and then when he was ultimately fouled in the opposite ‘45 he took a solo and go.”
“So, obviously, there’s a bit of learning there. I spoke with him inside after. He’s one-way traffic right now, that’s just the way he plays the game and you don’t want to take that out of him.”
Donegal were well out the gate with ten minutes to go in Ballybofey as they led by 11 points. And it was nice to ease home in a game that McGuinness admits he would have happily settled for any type of win.
“To be honest with you, we’re absolutely delighted to get out of Ballybofey with the victory. Once you can progress to the next round, that’s all that matters.”
“I was speaking to my wife last night and she was asking me how I felt about the game and I said if we can get out of Ballybofey with a one-point victory I’ll be the happiest man in Donegal.”
“That’s what the Ulster Championship is. These are the questions that are asked of you. And so yeah, we’re going down the road now and we have another opportunity and a big challenge in two weeks’ time. We’re still in the hat and that’s the most important thing.”
To get a full 70 plus minutes out of Michael Murphy – who picked up a niggle against Tyrone in the league in Letterkenny – was also another big plus for Donegal.
Captain McBrearty was the other surprise inclusion in the Donegal XV from the off and he certainly delivered with a seven-point haul.
“Michael’s in good shape. That’s the reality. Michael’s in good shape. He’s worked hard and he’s got himself up through the levels and we’ve tried to manage him as best we can to put him in a situation where he could do that.”
“We’re happy with Michael. Patrick McBrearty as well stepped in and brought a lot of fire to some of his attacking play, which is great.”
“He’s been out for a period of time as well so it’s lovely that these boys are starting to now come into the fold and step up.”
“Jason McGee got in and also got minutes too. So yeah, all of that is definitely positive and we’re going to have to find ways to hopefully keep progressing.”
“And listen, you can’t stand up in front of a group and say we believe that we have a more competitive squad this year than last year and then not give people an opportunity and that’s what we did for the last couple of rounds of the league.”
“We wanted to give people an opportunity and we knew that there were others going to be coming back in because they had injuries and they were trying to get up through the levels.”
“So we had to give people an opportunity and that’s what we did and there was a lot of noise around that.”
“But at the end of the day the number one thing for myself and the team is the Ulster Championship. It will always be that case.”
“So I don’t understand why there is noise to be honest with you, because that’s never going to change.”
“The Ulster Championship is there to be won and, after that, it’s the All-Ireland and we’ve managed to navigate the first round and it’s very simple and very straightforward in my head. So yeah, that will always be the number one priority.”
In relation to Eoghan Ban Gallagher’s progression from a recent hamstring complaint and the absence of both Michael Langan and Caolan McColgan, McGuinness added: “Caolan will be fine. Eoghan is getting there as well and we have a couple of other fellas around the edge.
“Michael Langan, it’s a niggle more than anything but we decided to hold them in reserve and if we really needed them we would push a button.”
“So we’re trying to manage all that. But to answer your question, I probably need to get in there and see them. There could be more in there than I know.”
