How the hell did we pull that one out of the fire?!
An incredible finish, a thrilling climax at Croke Park and Dún na nGall have a semi final to get ready for, a first for eight years. To win a game like that in those circumstances is amazing, to put the emotions into words near impossible.
The big news all week was the state of talisman Michael Murphy’s hamstring and rumours that he wouldn’t make the starting fifteen proved to be true. We didn’t know for sure until after the national anthem and as the team got together for their final huddle, Murphy jogged away quietly and took his seat in the Hogan stand, with David Walsh coming onto the field. It was an interesting piece of psychology by the management team and set the tone for a battle of minds with Kildare boss Kieran McGeeney.
Michael presumably sat out training during the week and even though he wasn’t moving as freely as usual when he came on he still produced a fantastic display. His dink pick up along the sideline in the build up to the winning point had the usual mark of Murphy class stamped all over it. Just a few minutes before that his 50-yard free was remarkable. It was a long way out in any case but to get the distance, and of course the accuracy, was outstanding considering his injured hamstring. He now has four weeks to get right for the semi and hopefully the seventy minutes he ended up playing didn’t do any further damage.
Murphy’s partner in crime, Colm McFadden, had his worst day of the year. He didn’t really get into the game, and indeed there were rumours of an injury to him during the week’s build up as well. To have your two best attackers nowhere near their best and to still win was quite an achievement. It was up to other men to step up to the plate and be counted and that’s exactly what happened.
Christy Toye, who hadn’t donned a Donegal jersey in two years, slotted seamlessly back into inter county action, taking his goal wonderfully and a fine equaliser in extra time. He’s been here before of course, scoring great Croke Park goals against Meath and Armagh and he hasn’t lost any of his finishing ability.
Another man back from the wilderness was Eamonn McGee, replacing Paddy McGrath, another hamstring victim in the lead up to the game. Again he fitted in as if he was never gone and it gives an indication as to how well conditioned the entire squad is. Playing to such a specified system also makes it easier for a player to step in because he knows his job and these boys will do whatever they can for their leader Jim.
Eamonn’s younger brother Neil put in another imperious display, as he has been doing all year. Indeed since his joust with Paddy Bradley in 2008, where the Derry sharp shooter scored 0-10 points, McGee seems a different player. He was taught a harsh lesson that day and has improved immeasurably since and it could all culminate in an All Star award this year.
Even McGee though was outshone on the day by the great Karl Lacey. A double All Star, soon to be triple, and the way he’s played all year could see him in the shake up for the Player of the Year gong. The amount of turnovers he wins, his composure on the ball, his fitness all add up to make him a top class player. Donegal had gone three points down approaching half time in extra time and it was Lacey who scored the point just before the whistle that kept us in the game.
Geezer had his Kildare side set up well and had countered a lot of Donegal’s threats. We were wiped out in midfield, Paul Durcan’s kick outs were largely straight up the middle as his normal arrowed kicks, which have worked so well in games up to now, weren’t working as the white jerseys had the options covered.
But for all the talk of tactics, blankets and systems the last ten minutes was all about heart and belief. Four fantastic scores in ten minutes from Murphy, Toye and then the winner from the hero Kevin Cassidy. He showed great leadership and guts to even take it on, having missed an easier one off his left moments earlier. It was a monster of a point and it was a fitting score to win what was an almighty battle.
Saturday nights sitting in the wind and rain of MacCumhaill Park makes these days in Croke Park all the sweeter. Headquarters will be thronged with Donegal people for the semi final; others will watch from all parts of the world, as they did on Saturday. From Termon to Thailand, Dungloe to Dubai, Donegal people are starting to get that feeling - it’s been building steadily, The Messiah has led us to the last four and the bid for Sam is on.
So many things have changed in Donegal football since Crossmaglen last year but perhaps the biggest difference is the mental attitude of the players. All-Ireland champions Cork lost their heads yesterday when chasing the game against Mayo.
Donegal on the other hand kept theirs, kept playing football……kept believing.
Sure isn’t that what its all about.
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