Jim McGuinness says Donegal got exactly what they expected from Monaghan as they edged a tight Ulster SFC contest in Clones.
Donegal had led 0-14 to 0-8 at the break in St Tiernach’s Park but Gabriel Bannigan’s side came roaring back into contention – getting to within one point of the leaders’ coattails on two occasions.
And right at the end there was some controversy as the hooter went as Monaghan looked to take a sideline ball.
Still, in the end, Donegal were out the gate thanks to a 0-23 to 0-21 victory and the manager says that was all that mattered.
“We knew we were away from home and we knew it was the Ulster championship,” McGuinness told assembled media.
“They were very high in confidence in terms of their league performances.”
“And their capacity to score two-pointers is really impressive. I’d say half of their scores came from that. They are really well tuned to that tactic.”
“We expected them to come hard at us and they did. The pleasing thing is that every time we found a response.”
“We had some big performances as well. Shaun Patton was excellent at getting his kicks away, Peadar Mogan and Ciaran Thompson had big moments. Finnbarr Roarty had a massive game in the corner.”
“We move on now in the competition and that’s all that matters. You don’t have an average of 1-26 in the league and not bring that confidence to the table.”
“They’ll be very formidable opposition for anyone for the rest of the championship.”
In regards to the Monaghan gripe at the end and the confusion around the rule in relation to the hooter sounding when the the ball is about to go live once more from the sideline, he explained: “I don’t have an opinion.”
“The new rules are the new rules. If that’s the way it’s meant to end, to the letter of the law, then so be it.”
“Monaghan were scratching their heads and, for a moment, so was I. But my understanding was that the ball was in the air, it was fisted out and the hooter went.”
“And if that’s the case, the ball is out of play and that’s the end of the game. I could be corrected on that but that’s the way it was explained to us.”
