Irish Daily Star - Inside Sport
Under-fire Donegal can pile pressure on Dessie
ANY time there was a big moment in Donegal’s GAA history, Dublin always seemed to be knocking around.
Go back to 1992 and our first All-Ireland, beating the Dubs in the final. Then there was that infamous game in 2011 which gave us the platform to go and drive for Sam the following year.
I’ll never forget the 2014 AllIreland semi-final, especially for the atmosphere during the last five minutes when Donegal chants rocked Croke Park.
We thought we had won Sam but fell flat on our faces in the final. I ge t the feeling that tomorrow in Croke Park will have the feeling of a big day too.
A Donegal win would effectively relegate Dublin but, if Donegal get nothing out of the game, then they have Armagh in the last game.
That game’s in Letterkenny — a graveyard for Donegal in the League — and they have to play Armagh in Ulster. They don’t want to have to be going all out in that final League game and showing their hand.
Like Dessie Farrell, Declan Bonner is feeling the heat, as it’s not just about the results not going the way he would have wanted.
Frustrated
What is also notable is Donegal just don’t seem to be clicking and supporters are incredibly frustrated.
There’s a strange thing that binds most managers. If Farrell stepped down tomorrow, he would still be one of the most successful Dublin managers of all time — an All-Ireland, two Leinsters and a League. And let’s not forget he won All-Irelands at minor and Under-21 level.
As for Bonner, he has won two Ulster titles with Donegal. Only three Donegal managers ever — Brian McEniff, Jim McGuinness and Bonner — have won Ulster.
If Donegal stay up, and they have a good chance of doing so, they will be a Division One team for yet another year. Loads of counties would love to be where Donegal are.
But success brings an increase in expectations and Donegal fans know what the biggest days are like and want a taste of them again.
When I started out, just reaching an Ulster final meant banners all around the county and drawing with Dublin in an AllIreland quarter-final was seen as a massive thing.
Young players coming through now no longer have that inferiority complex we would have had when we came on the scene.
Tyrone and Armagh were just better than us and that was that. Expectation brings pressure and, when managers or players step into the cauldron, then they’ve got to expect a certain amount of criticism. That being said, those dishing out the criticism have to accept that it’s just not very relevant.
Everyone has all the answers when things seem to be going wrong. Farrell and Bonner won’t be short of advice — be it from us in the media or the general public.
Don’t get me wrong, I’ve no issue with anyone critiquing players or management. Recently, the Donegal county chairman went public to give out about abuse of the players and management.
He is fighting a losing battle there and, to be honest, I’m not sure it’s a battle he should fight.
Majority
If we are good enough to take the pats on the back then we have to be able to take the kicks in the arse too.
But it should always be noted that the majority of those who are criticising don’t really know what’s going on.
When I was playing, I often heard people outside of the circle offer advice on how we should be playing or what we should be doing — and it’s amazing how crazy it can be.
Not for the first time, there are calls for Michael Murphy to be placed at full-forward and left there.
Michael is one of the great full-forwards but he is so influential out the field. I don’t think there’s another player in Donegal who could do what he does out there.
By now, I think I’ve heard all the different takes and the full range of opinions on why Donegal aren’t performing.
Some actually make sense and are logical, others stray into ridiculous conspiracy theory territory.
We will never know what’s really going on inside the camp.
Bonner is manager and has been involved at a high level in football for nearly 40 years. Stephen Rochford, who has a proven record as a coach, is beside him.
Maybe we should put a bit of trust in them, and figure they know what they’re doing?
Sometimes, I’m asked why I don’t write more about Donegal in these pages.
That’s because I’m compromised, there’s no getting away from that. My brother, Neil, is still in the squad. I’m friends with some of the other players.
And, when you were a Donegal player for so long, there’s an instinctive part of you that sides with the players.
You see people you know getting heat and you want to defend them, not join in the criticism. As time goes on, things will change. Neil will retire. My friends in the panel will too. It will be easier to be detached then.
Circle
But, for now, I have that part of me that’s still inside the circle. Watching Padraig Hampsey goading Murphy in one Donegal/Tyrone game, I wanted to jump the fence.
I feel very loyal to Donegal. Is that a good or bad thing? It’s what it is.
It should be noted too that Bonner has been unluckier with injuries than any other manager in Division One. Against Monaghan last weekend, he was missing around half of what would be his preferred Championship team.
That is something that really puzzles me. Donegal, like all top counties, have top drawer medical and S&C personnel. Why are they picking up so
many injuries? Is it bad luck?
On to tomorrow, and another big one. That’s the way in Division One. Donegal haven’t won against Dublin in the League in Croke Park since the early 1990s. Dublin looked more like themselves against Tyrone last week — well, in the first half, anyway. But I have a feeling Donegal will pull out a performance. Donegal to win and pile even more pressure on Farrell.