All changed, changed utterly

After nineteen long years, the Anglo Celt cup is back within the boundaries of Donegal. It was a magnificent performance from Donegal as they put years of defeat, disappointment and indiscipline behind them, to capture the Ulster title they craved so much.

It comes just over a year from their exit from the 2010 Championship to Armagh. That day Donegal were lethargic, disinterested and passionless. The image of Colm McFadden and co laughing on the bench as their team was getting hammered, left a bitter taste and signalled the end of John Joe donerty's disastrous tenure as bainisteoir. Who could have possibly forseen, as we left deflated from Crossmaglen, that just 12 months later Michael Murphy would be lifting the Anglo Celt?

 One man could, Jim McGuinness.

But things would have to change. The team would have to get fitter, stronger and faster. Jim knew he had talented players, but talent alone was not enough. The best teams had game plans, and McGuinness strategically came up with a game plan to make Donegal difficult to beat. However, more than anything, they needed a change of attitude. They had to get rid of their inferiority complex, give more commitment and start behaving like champions. In just over a year, everything changed. To quote W. B yeats, it has "all changed, changed utterly".

Last Sunday, Donegal were fantastic. Their tackling was tenacious, their workrate ferocious, and their scoretaking was wonderful. Huge credit must go to Michael Hegarty. To say the kilcar man would not have been Ft's most favourite player over the last decade or so, would be a bit of an understatement, yet on Sunday, he really came of age. To play Donegal's system, a link man is crucial. Someone is needed to connect the defence with attack, and Hegarty was superb in this role. His distribution was impeccable, his tackling was good, and he always seemed to be in around the braking ball. He would have been my man of the match.

To traditionalists, Donegal's system may not be pretty, but nobody can deny its effectiveness. It protects the full back line, cuts out the opposition inside forwards, and forces players, uncomfortable in possesion, to shoot under pressure. It also importantly, reduces the oppositions chances sigificantly of scoring goals. The old GAA proverb says that 'Goals win matches', Donegal have conceded one and scored six in four matches. With such a mean defence, it's no surprise Donegal are Ulster champions.

Neil McGee was steady at full back, while Anthony Thompson had a great 70 minutes. Paddy McGrath and Frank McGlynn have really lifted their performaces this year. They get stronger and stronger with each game, and their improvement has allowed Karl Lacey to push out the field. For too long, he has been confined to the corner, Lacey has far too much ability to be played there. He is excellent at tackling, good at carrying the ball and superb at reading the game. And at 40/1 with PP to win footballer of the year, he could be a very worthwhile investment.

Neil Gallagher had a fine game in the middle, while McFadden has come a long way from his laughter in Crossmaglen.Michael Murphy rediscovered his form and showed why McGuinness entrusted him with the captaincy. He showed real leadership, as he won the ball after ball and contributed two points to the tally. He also had the liathroidí to stick away the penalty when it came.

John Brennan and Dery were unhappy, but i believe the decision to award a penalty was the correct one. Murphy won the ball, and Devlin's mommentum brought Murphy down. If it happened in any other position in the field, a free kick would be given. Derry were very unlucky not to be given a penalty of their own, yet I still think Donegal would have held on for victory. It meant too much to let it slip.

Donegal now move forward into the All-Ireland Championship, and they don't fear anyone. And why should they? They have earned the right to be there, and it is going to take a very good side to defeat them. Crossmaglen is now a distant memory, Donegal are Ulster Champions. They are all changed, changed utterly.