THE locks may be going a bit grey around the edges, but this has to be the highlight of Jimmy McGuinness’s career as a manager.
Following in the footsteps of the great Brian McEniff, ‘Our Jimmy’ helped Donegal secure its second title in 20 years.
All roads now lead back from Dublin to the hills of Donegal where in the next 24 hours Sam Maguire will be proudly shown on display by the players and Jimmy’s backroom team of coaches, physios and medics.
As he soaked up the adulation of the tens of thousands of Donegal fans, heaped praise on his fans and the supporters who came down from the hills to turn Croke Park into a happy sea of green and gold.
Last year, he was criticised by the pundits for playing so-called negative football, Jimmy McGuinness showed what a great manager he really is by turning around the team’s fortunes in 12 month and showing that he had a great team of footballers, from the back right to the front sticks.
A jubilant Jimmy, beaming proudly beside the Sam Maguire trophy, said: “It was pure joy and emotion at the end. Donegal is a football mad county.
“To win the All-Ireland is something these players has been dreaming about since they were young boys.
“To get over the line is fantastic for them. It is actually life changing. ”
But for Mayo manager James Horan it was a huge disappointment. His players came so close but yet so far.
“To give seven points away away at the start of an All Ireland final against a team like Donegal is hard to come back from.”