‘It’s a tough one to take’ – Jim McGuinness gives his verdict after Donegal’s narrow semi-final defeat

“Very disappointed, very, very disappointed,” he began at the post-match press conference. “We thought we really had a chance of getting through and going to the final. I suppose the summary of it will be we converted five of 14 in the second half, and converted ten from 14 in the first half.

“We ran out of steam a wee bit coming down the stretch I think. I think Galway looked a bit more battle-hardened than us, maybe that experience of a couple of years ago (when reaching the All-Ireland final) was beneficial to them.

“Losing Eoghan Ban (Gallagher, to injury in the 48th minute) was a loss and a big moment in the game. He had made a brilliant incision and got fouled and we got the free kick. Those driving runs were missed as well coming down the stretch. In a game of very fine margins I think in the second half those couple of reasons or those couple of insights maybe might be my thoughts on the reasons why we didn’t progress.”

Donegal failed to score after Michael Langan’s fourth point from play, which was probably his best, in the 61st minute, which levelled the sides for the tenth time. From there a Rob Finnerty free and a closing score from play by Liam Silke saw Galway through.

“I think a part of that has to be down to fatigue and decision-making, that the batteries ran a bit lower and then what you do normally or naturally becomes a wee bit more difficult. We lost that sort of flow we have had all year. They’ve played brilliant football, they’ve moved the ball really well, they’ve made brilliant decisions. There is nobody going to be giving out to them.

“We said in the dressing room there it is not a day to talk about tactics. It’s a day to reflect on the work that they’ve done and the effort levels they’ve put in. And where they’ve got to.”

Donegal finish the season as Ulster champions and also won promotion from Division 2.

“It is a tough one to take, it is a really, really tough one to take, but that’s football,” said McGuinness. “You know, these moments. Big games are decided on moments and there were a couple of moments there when the rub of the green wasn’t with us as well. The game ended a two-point game. The goal was very fortuitous.

“We had two brilliant blocks, defensively, and the ball fell to a Galway man. You know after two brilliant defensive blocks. So those wee bits and pieces as well, sometimes you’re thinking.. you know, Oisin (Gallen) missed a free (late in the match), like he could kick that over in his sleep.”

But he expressed his pride in the players on what they had achieved.

“We were on track and on task in the first half, we had 10 points on the board from 14 shots in the first half. We had the same amount of shots in the second half, the same amount of possession I would imagine and we had five points in return. That really is the final analysis.”