Jim McGuinness’s side have injected some energy into a pretty drab championship but panel depth and playing style could prevent them going all the wayJim McGuinness: his return has galvanised the whole county and Donegal, unbeaten in 2024, have already sealed promotion in the league and claimed the Ulster championship. Photograph: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfileare the only unbeaten team in Ireland in 2024 and right throughout the county, it’s as if they’ve already skipped ahead to Croke Park.
“This is going to probably sound a bit cringey but it’s true,” says Paddy McGill of the Donegal GAA Podcast. “There is a huge connection right now between the players, the management and the supporters. It’s down to three things, as far as I can see. “I can’t get over the energy feel that’s there,” Carney says. “I can’t get over the enthusiasm and the way the whole county has come behind this McGuinness phenomenon. I watched their warm-up ahead of the first Tyrone game – they were doing it right down in front of the corner of the terrace where we were. And what fascinated me was Jim’s role in it. He was the A to Z of everything that happened in that warm-up.
And so it falls time to introduce the rubber to the road. Where is it all going? What’s the ceiling for Donegal in 2024? They’ve already leapfrogged Derry in the betting as the Ulster side most likely to win Sam Maguire from this point but does that view really hold water? And if it doesn’t, will it ever? If not this year, when?Shaun Patton looks to have shaken off his early season injuries.