PAUL Shankey and Mark McHugh haven’t lost any of their passion for their counties in retirement judging from their pre-match segment.
Prior to Donegal ultimately proving a step too far for a young Meath side, they offered an entertaining preview piece on the Croke Park surface.
The pair were fired up during a passionate debate over who was going to win[/caption]
You get a sense of it from the above clip, however, that doesn’t even include the best part.
As 2012 All-Ireland winner McHugh thought he’d gotten in the final point/blow, the Meath All-Ireland champion quickly countered about a previous game “being a systems-based game compared to today’s”.
He then theatrically threw a clenched fist as if he’d just won a match-winning free in the 70th minute.
As presenter Damian Lawlor then threw back to Joanne Cantwell and the main punditry team pitchside, he quipped about how he’d barely had to say a word to instigate a debate between the two.
He joked: “Well, that was the easiest interview I’ve ever done! Back to you Joanne.”
Twelve months since Jim McGuinness admitted that his side ‘ran out of steam’ in their bid to reach the All-Ireland SFC final, Donegal delivered the goods as they charged towards a first showpiece since 2014 like a freight train.
In the wake of their defeat to Galway at the same stage last summer, McGuinness lamented their failure to convert nine of 14 scoring opportunities in the second half.
But having seen his team hit 3-13 after the change of ends at a packed Croke Park, there were no such complaints this time after they ruthlessly disposed of Meath’s attempt to take another major scalp.
The Royals have already tasted unlikely Championship victories over Dublin, Kerry and Galway this summer. Hopes of a first All-Ireland final appearance in 24 years were therefore high.
But Robbie Brennan’s superb first season at the helm was brought to an end in chastening fashion. Even at half-time, things looked ominous for Meath as they trailed by 0-13 to 0-8.
With a Sam Maguire decider against Kerry to come in a fortnight, Donegal could even afford to withdraw 35-year-old talisman Michael Murphy with 25 minutes still to play.
Murphy made way just moments after kicking his side into an eight-point lead. By then, the Ulster champions had also bagged the first of three second-half goals.
Donegal can now look forward to a first All-Ireland final appearance since the defeat to the Kingdom 11 years ago. McGuinness’ side played five games in 99 days to reach that stage then.
It has taken them twice as many outings in the same number of days to do it again.
Every facet of Donegal’s output was impressive here. Singling out just one of their awesome attackers would do a disservice to the others.
At the back, high standards were set by the colossal contributions of Brendan McCole and Finnbarr Roarty.
On a day when Paddy McBrearty came off the bench and kicked 0-3, McGuinness noted that the strength of his panel has been a key factor in taking Donegal a step further than in 2024.
McGUINNESS VIEW
He said: “We didn’t know at that stage the rule changes that were coming down the line and the physical demands of the rule changes, but certainly we knew that we needed people to come in and give us more depth and strengthen.
“We knew we had to be stronger and it would build its own energy within the group because it’d be more competitive and people want to play naturally, so I think we did see that today.
“We were able to make those changes the whole way through the game and going in to play Kerry in an All-Ireland final, you’re going to need every man that you’ve got.
“That’s a huge challenge and they’re so confident about what they do.
“There’s a rite of passage there almost in terms of winning All-Irelands, so that’s the first thing we’re going to have to meet head on.
“But certainly it’ll not be 15 players, it’ll be every single player that can get onto the pitch that’ll be needed.”
