Frank McGlynn is a bit long in the tooth to be fazed by big Championship days, but the Glenfin man believes yesterday’s big win over Antrim will stand to Donegal’s young guns.
Donegal gave first Ulster Championship starts to seven players yesterday with McGlynn one of the few men with veteran status included.
Caolan Ward, Eoghan Ban Gallagher, Michael Carroll, Ciaran Thompson, Cian Mulligan, Jason McGee and Jamie Brennan were included from the start for the first time in Championship football but even they’ll be acutely aware that it won’t always be like this.
For most of the 10,083 in attendance in the deadening Ballybofey heat, it was only a matter of how many Donegal would win by, even in those first half moments when the scoreline showed a tight contest.
“It’s never difficult to motivate yourself for an Ulster Championship match, especially with the home crowd here supporting you,” McGlynn said.
“You want to get off on the right foot because you can’t just turn on and turn off.
“For the younger lads, it was very beneficial. It’s a change, it’a a lift from the League so it’s good for them to get the experience. Regardless of who comes through, it’ll be a massive step up for the next day.
“The intensity and fitness levels are a shock to the system on the first day. They have that experience now for the next day.
“It’s good to start off with a win.”
McGlynn scored a fine point in the second half and was one of ten Donegal players to register.
Derry or Tyrone will provide opposition in the Ulster semi-final next month and, regardless of who wins Sunday’s game in Celtic Park, the level of competitiveness will ratchet up a notch.
McGlynn said: “There is loads for us to work on because that won’t be good enough the next day.
“It probably flattered us. Antrim missed a lot of chances. If they had taken them it could have been a different story, but you’re always happy with an Ulster Championship victory.
“When the game opened up a wee bit, we got the lead opened, Antrim couldn’t play that way and the more they came out the more scores we got. Antrim kept going and finished with a great goal.”
Indeed, Jamie Brennan’s goal, Donegal’s first of the afternoon, came just after Matthew Fitzpatrick shot wide when he got in behind the Donegal defence. It was a goal that pushed the chips to Donegal’s end and Antrim folded.
McGlynn said: “They shaved the post at one end and we got the goal at the other end. That’s a massive swing in any game. Our boys took a lot of confidence and pushed on from that.”
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