Jim McGuinness reflected on the game with a clear conclusion.
After a difficult period two years prior, McGuinness returned to manage Donegal for a second stint.
The ultimate prize seemed attainable, but following a 1-26 to 0-19 loss to Kerry in Sunday’s final, a period of reflection is in order.
“You strive for perfection, but sometimes you have to acknowledge the superior team,” McGuinness stated.
“We made too many errors to secure the victory.”
Upon returning to the Donegal dressing room after the All-Ireland final defeat, McGuinness offered his players a succinct message: “Don’t dwell on this game for too long.”
McGuinness elaborated: “We didn’t deserve the win. That’s the honest truth. We didn’t do enough. Sometimes a performance needs to be put aside, and this is one of those times.”
“They invested enormous effort and dedication throughout the year. They’ve been a highly cooperative, focused group.”
“Today is disappointing for us and for our aspirations. I am particularly sorry for the Donegal supporters who came out in force but didn’t see the performance we wanted to deliver.”
A disappointed Michael Murphy with Neil McGee after Sunday’s final. Photo Evan Logan
Even before David Clifford scored in the ninth minute, Kerry had established a 0-5 to 0-3 lead. Gavin Whyte and Seán O’Shea quickly gained ground, putting Donegal under pressure early on.
McGuinness, whose Donegal team was defeated by Kerry in the 2014 final, explained: “Kerry started strong and dictated the pace of the game. We were constantly trying to catch up. We tried to respond, but they continued to add to their score.”
“We quickly found ourselves in a defensive battle, whereas we wanted to be in control. They set the tone early, and we were constantly playing catch-up.”
“We have to accept the defeat and give credit to Kerry. They were excellent today.”
“They performed exceptionally well for extended periods. Even when we thought we might gain some ground, it never really happened.”
Patrick McBrearty, Eoin McHugh and Conor O’Donnell cut disappointed figures after Sunday’s final. Photo Evan Logan
Little went right for Donegal, and injuries to Ciaran Thompson and Ryan McHugh compounded their difficulties.
“Their absence was significant,” McGuinness lamented. “Ciaran offers a two-point threat that we missed. When chasing a score, you need players who can deliver, and he has consistently done that for us this season. He is a warrior, and we missed his presence and physicality in midfield.”
“He is reliable with the ball, and his presence in the second half might have created scoring opportunities.”
Ultimately, Kerry scored five two-pointers, while Donegal scored none.
Donegal only had six scorers against Kerry, compared to twelve in their previous two games at Croke Park.
McGuinness questioned: “Why weren’t we getting the same offensive threat from all over the pitch, with different players stepping up at different times?”
“Kerry applied aggressive pressure, and we attempted to do the same. They won a lot of loose balls, especially Gavin Whyte. We pride ourselves on winning those, but they secured a large number of them.”
“Every possession was critical, as was winning our own kick-outs. Kick-outs and turnovers drive attacks, and we didn’t win enough.”
While maintaining that his team “felt good” going into the game, McGuinness acknowledged that a “thorough review” would take place in the coming weeks and months.
Slow start for Donegal proved costly – McGuinness was last modified: July 27th, 2025 by
