Jim McGuinness celebrates after Donegal won the All-Ireland in 2012
BY CHRIS MCNULTY
66 – Jim McGuinness’s reign as Donegal manager lasted 66 games
3 – Jim McGuinness won the Anglo-Celt Cup (Ulster SFC) three times as Donegal manager
10 – Between 2011, 2012 and 2013, Donegal won 10 game in a row in the Ulster Championship
1 – Donegal lost just once in the Ulster Championship under McGuinness, winning 13 out of their 14 games. Their only Ulster defeat in his time was the 2013 final against Monaghan
16 – Donegal kept 16 clean sheets in their 24 Championship game under McGuinness’s watch
Michael Murphy leads Donegal out for a game against Antrim in 2011 – Jim McGuinness’s first SFC game in charge of Donegal
83.3 – Donegal won 20 of the 24 Championship games in the McGuinness years, a strike rate of some 83.3 per cent
David Walsh and Martin O’Reilly in action against Kerry’s Brian McGuire in a League game in 2012
59 – Just how McGuinness viewed the importance of the Championship in comparison to the other competitions can be seen by the fact that Donegal won 39 of their 66 games over the whole of his tenure, a success rate of 59 per cent
230 – Having scored 13-191 (230 points) over the last four campaigns, Michael Murphy was Donegal’s top scorer in that period
222 – Colm McFadden isn’t far off in the scoring table under McGuinness, with the St Michael’s man contributing an impressive 17-171 (222 points) to his tenure
1 – Michael Murphy played in 49 National League and Senior Championship games for McGuinness. Only once – the 2011 All-Ireland semi-final against Dublin – was the Glenswilly man held scoreless
3,710 – Paul Durcan played more football under Jim McGuinness than any other player. Peter Boyle was in goal for McGuinness’s first League game, against Sligo, in February, 2011, but Durcan played every minute of each subsequent League and Championship game – 53 matches and a total of 3,710 minutes
16 – In the last four years, Donegal have recorded League or Championship wins against 16 counties: Tyrone, Meath, Derry, Antrim, Laois, Cavan, Kildare, Cork, Mayo, Armagh, Down, Dublin, Kerry, Monaghan, Galway and Louth
Jim McGuinness addresses his squad
44 – Over the course of his 54 League and Championship games, Jim McGuinness used a total of 44 players, with the appearances of Stephen McLaughlin, Hugh McFadden, Gary McFadden, Matthew Smyth and Eoin Waide limited to roles as subs in those matches
1 – Eoin Waide played just one minute of competitive action, as a sub for Karl Lacey at the end of a 2011 League defeat by Laois at O’Donnell Park. The Glenties man left the panel soon after and never
returned
Donegal defender, Eamon McGee.
100 – Paul Durcan, Eamon McGee, Neil McGee, Karl Lacey, Frank McGlynn, Rory Kavanagh and Neil Gallagher have all made their 100th Donegal appearances under Jim McGuinness’s watch
Receive quality journalism wherever you are, on any device. Keep up to date from the comfort of your own home with a digital subscription.
Any time | Any place | Anywhere
SUBSCRIBE TO CURRENT EDITION TODAY
and get access to our archive editions dating back to 2007(CLICK ON THE TITLE BELOW TO SUBSCRIBE)