And so the mind games begin.
Jim McGuinness and Brian Dooher know each other well after decades of crossing paths both on and off the field.
Now the respective Donegal and Tyrone bosses come head-to-head in next Sunday’s Ulster Championship semi-final.
The game will mean a quick return to Celtic Park in Derry for Donegal fans with the game throwing in at 2pm.
The Tyrone vet has been quick to downplay his side’s chances after they limped across the line against Cavan after extra time at Kingspan Breffni Park last Sunday.
In fact, Dooher claims Donegal, after their gutsy display against Derry, are “favourites by a country mile” to win Sunday’s game.
Dooher said “There’s no words could do it justice, how good they were.
“It was as good a performance as I have seen. They just dismantled Derry basically who were twice two in a row Ulster champions, League champions.
“That’s what they did, and in some style. They have phenomenal pace, phenomenal work rate. It was a great match to watch actually.
“To be fair to Derry, give them credit too, but Donegal’s goals were real exhibition stuff.
“Jim was here – I’m not sure he’ll go away too worried. Let’s be honest about it.
“It doesn’t take a genius to figure out that performance is nowhere near what we need for Donegal. We go in and Donegal will be big favourites by a country mile.
“You know what? We’re still there and we’ll go and give a good account of ourselves. Getting bodies recovered will be the big focus.”
Dooher has been a critic of the heavy schedule faced by county players with this week a real pressure point for Tyrone and Donegal.
“There’s some wiser men than me sorting (it) out,” he said
“I’ve said it all year – the player welfare is not there. The players are the last thing they consider at this time.
“What they’re expecting of players who have to get up and do a day’s work tomorrow. Next week it’s crazy but that’s the way it is. I’m not the man putting my body on the line out there, it’s those young boys who are giving everything as they have done all year.
“They need a wee bit of respect in the middle of all this. That’s something that’s sadly lacking at the minute.
“They are learning and they won the (Cavan) game for us. That’s the long and the short of it.
“They made the difference and got us over the line and we look forward to them doing it more often.
“We are in the Ulster semi-final.
“The performance wasn’t what it should have been or what we expected but the ultimate objective was to be there. Time will tell how much the extra time will take out of us.”
Time and perhaps another McGuinness tactical plan will tell on Sunday afternoon next.
