McGuinness says they pushed boulder uphill in key game phase as Donegal struggled to find their rhythm in the All-Ireland semi-final loss to Kerry. Despite the emotional weight of returning to this stage a decade after their 2014 final defeat, Jim McGuinness urged his players not to dwell too long on this latest setback. “We didn’t do enough to win the game,” he told RTÉ Sport after the match. “Sometimes you just have to let a performance slide and this is one of them.”
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Slow Start Costs Donegal Early
Donegal were stunned by Kerry’s sharp start. Kerry dominated possession and struck with precision, including a burst of two-point efforts from David Clifford that set the tone. Many of Donegal’s recent strengths—protecting possession, dominating the middle, and gathering breaks deserted them, especially in the first half. Their efficient scoring helped them stay in touch, but they couldn’t get enough of the ball to build real momentum.
Kerry Set the Terms from the Start
McGuinness acknowledged Kerry dictated the pace. “They got a foothold early, and we were chasing after that,” he said. He noted Donegal’s attack was efficient in the first half, but Kerry’s decision to go for twos and land them created a gap Donegal struggled to close. Brendan McCole held up well at times against Clifford, but the Kerry forward was simply too effective, especially when he got into a rhythm.
Critical Turnovers and Missed Opportunities
One moment stood out before half-time. After points from Conor and Shane O’Donnell reduced the margin to five, Daire Ó Baoill misdirected a hopeful pass toward Michael Murphy, who wasn’t positioned to contest. Kerry calmly controlled the ball, and the Cliffords combined for another two-pointer to stretch the gap to seven. “That was a tough one,” said McGuinness. “That score before half-time really changed the dressing room mood.”
No Lack of Energy Just Beaten by the Better Team
McGuinness stressed the team was emotionally ready unlike 2014 but simply couldn’t control the terms of the game. “Kerry came hard and early. They kept the scoreboard moving and we were pushing a boulder uphill for large parts,” he said. Donegal’s defense had no answer to Kerry’s diverse attacking options, especially Paudie Clifford, who found too much space.
Time to Reflect and Move On
McGuinness admitted there would be some tough internal conversations in the coming weeks. “Sometimes you have to take your hat off. The better team won, and we made too many mistakes. You make peace with that.” While the defeat stings, McGuinness insists it wasn’t about mindset—it was just a case of not meeting the moment on the pitch.
