Roles clear under McGuinness’ watch

By Michael McMullan

THERE is no second-guessing your role when playing under Jim McGuinness, stresses captain Patrick McBrearty.

McGuinness handed a teenage McBrearty his championship debut against Antrim in 2011, having played in the minor curtain-raiser.

Since lifting the Anglo Celt Cup for a second time earlier in the season, McBrearty has been used in an impact sub role on the way to Sunday’s showdown with Kerry.

“You’re going to know your role, that’s for sure,” replied McBrearty, asked what it is like to play on a McGuinness team.

“It’s about whether can you implement it, basically. We’re very, very lucky. The amount of analysis we go through, both yourself and the opposition.

“You’re going to be in the best physical shape you can be. There’s no cutting corners with him. He’s lifted standards across the board within the whole county, so it’s great to have him back.”

McBrearty was among a delegation of players who sounded out McGuinness, who is now in his second season of a second stint as senior manager.

“There were a lot of conversations that happened over a period of weeks,” he said.

For McBrearty, his thoughts flickered. Maybe McGuinness would return. Maybe he wouldn’t. The ‘no’ word never arose and the rest is history. Donegal are now back in the All-Ireland final.

McBrearty, Michael Murphy, Ryan McHugh and Hugh McFadden are the survivors from the 2014 defeat to Kerry, with Colm McFadden and Neil McGee now part of the management team.

After their 20-point semi-final win over Meath, Murphy revealed that it was McBrearty’s post-game speech that helped bring the squad back to earth ahead of two weeks of preparation for Sunday’s decider.

“It’s a great place to be when you win, but when you lose as well, there’s no place worse in the world,” McBrearty said of the Croke Park dressing room, the same one – based on the alphabetical order arrangement – they’ll emerge from on Sunday.

The last week has been about managing the non-football essentials with keeping their eyes on their own game and whatever Jack O’Connor’s side will bring.

In his 15th season, McBrearty is one of the experienced heads but feels the rest of the squad don’t need too much of a steer.

“I think they’re locked on to be honest,” he said. “They’re good lads. I never see them putting stuff up on social media or nothing.

“They’re really, really focused. They come in here (the Convoy base), they train, they put their head down.

“There’s no bothering them. Finnbarr (Roarty) has come in, Ciarán Moore, really, really mature lads, Caolan McColgan, all those boys.

“There’s no managing on them. They come in, do their gym work, do their training, go home. You never hear anything about them outside the group, which is a massive positive.”

READ MORE – Full feature piece with Patrick McBrearty. Click here….

POD: Sean O’Sullivan gives us the Kerry view and we chat to Donegal’s Ryan McHugh