Donegal's odds for the All-Ireland title have been cut to 5/1 with Ladbrokes following their impressive display in winning back-to-back Ulster titles on Sunday.
Jim McGuinness’ team retained the Anglo-Celt Cup for the first time in the county’s history as they ran up an impressive tally of 2-18 to Down’s 0-13 points in a comprehensive win.
The Tir Conaill men’s haul was all the more impressive for the fact they amassed 2-16 of their total in the closing 40 minutes of the game, leaving Down bewildered and beaten a long before the final whistle.
While Cork (9/4), Kerry (11/4 and Dublin (3/1) are being viewed as the ‘big three’ in terms of All-Ireland success this summer, Donegal’s second successive Ulster title, and the manner in which they have achieved it, has allowed them to emerge as genuine contenders for the ultimate crown and they are now trimmed to 5/1 with
Ladbrokes for the All-Ireland football championship.
Goals in either half from Leo McLoone and the impressive Frank McGlynn gave Donegal the momentum and Down were able to offer little in response as the Ulster champions picked off scores at will during a rampant second half.
Having been criticised last summer for their inability to produce scores in big games, Donegal have now come full circle as manager McGuinness continues to refine their style of play. That was emphasised at St Tiernach’s Park with no fewer than 12 Donegal players getting their names on the scoresheet against Down.
Mark McHugh kicked two vital scores for Donegal early in the second half and the midfielder admits his side must now raise the bar once more in pursuit of a coveted Sam Maguire success.
“I think every team thinks they are capable of winning an All-Ireland. We looked at our goals at the start of the year, and the first was to retain this,” McHugh said after being named man of the match on Sunday.
“We’ve done that now and of course our full focus now will be on an All-Ireland title. If we are good enough, we’re not sure, we are going to have to perform to achieve it. But we are going to get back working hard on the training ground and hopefully we can achieve an All-Ireland.”
Donegal manger McGuinness is looking for his players to refocus their attention on the upcoming All-Ireland series, with a quarter-final and a return to Croke Park looming on the horizon for Donegal.
“Look, they’ve done something we’d our hearts set on doing, winning back-to-back Ulster titles, and that’s very satisfying,” said the Donegal manager.
“Of course, you have to believe you can win the All-Ireland. If you didn’t believe that there’s no point in going on in the competition. Just give your place to somebody else.
“We can only prepare 100 per cent for the quarter-final. And that’s the way we’ll approach it. If you don’t win the quarter-final you can’t win the All-Ireland.”
