Marc Ó Sé hopes for McGuinness ‘magic dust’ in big decider as Donegal prepare to face Kerry in Sunday’s All-Ireland SFC final, believing Jim McGuinness will have something special planned for the clash. Having been on the winning side against Donegal in the 2014 final, Ó Sé understands how much motivation revenge can bring.
McGuinness Factor Can’t Be Ignored
Ó Sé shared that McGuinness, alongside key players like Michael Murphy and Patrick McBrearty, will be central to Donegal’s hopes. He expects McGuinness to have “something up his sleeve,” studying Kerry’s semi-final strategies closely, especially how teams have tried to contain Seán O’Shea, Paudie Clifford, and David Clifford. He wonders if Donegal will drop players back to cover Clifford while trying to keep tabs on Kerry’s other threats.
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Donegal’s Rapid Turnaround
Ó Sé is impressed by how McGuinness has transformed Donegal since taking over last season. Under Paddy Carr, Donegal seemed to be fading, but now they’re in an All-Ireland final, with players fully committed to McGuinness’ system. The emergence of players like Finbarr Roarty, who was man of the match in their last game, shows how McGuinness has brought out the best in his squad, making them play at their peak.
Respect for Kerry’s Strengths
Despite Donegal’s growth, Ó Sé acknowledges Kerry’s strengths under Jack O’Connor, who is guiding the team into their eighth final, with four previous wins. He also highlights David Clifford’s potential to be one of the greatest Gaelic footballers, noting his consistency in winning Player of the Year awards and his pivotal role in Kerry’s attack.
Key to Kerry’s Success
For Kerry to overcome Donegal, Ó Sé stresses the importance of controlling midfield, just as they have in recent matches. With players like Michael Langan and Ciarán Thompson on the Donegal side, the midfield battle will be tougher, but winning it could be the deciding factor. Ó Sé also highlights the need to quickly move the ball into the inside line to get the most out of Clifford’s attacking threat while tracking Donegal’s runners from defence to prevent them from building momentum.
Injuries and Hopes for Impact
While Diarmuid O’Connor may not start due to recent injury, Ó Sé is hopeful that he or others like Tom O’Sullivan and Paul Geaney can make an impact off the bench for 20-25 minutes if needed. He believes Kerry’s momentum, built from strong wins over Armagh, Tyrone, and Cavan, will give them confidence heading into the final.
A Final Worth Watching
Ó Sé sees Donegal as the best team in Ulster this season and expects a fantastic battle, noting how both teams have shown their strengths leading up to this final. With McGuinness’ tactical acumen and Kerry’s powerful attack, Sunday’s decider promises to be a thrilling contest for Gaelic football fans.
