Rory Gallagher knows what its like to win and lose an All-Ireland club SFC semi-final.

Gallagher fell at the penultimate hurdle with St Brigid’s of Dublin back in 2003. Seven years later though he did finally reach the Promised Land when St Gall’s of Belfast lifted the Andy Merrigan Cup at Croke Park.

Ironically enough, Gallagher’s side accounted for Corofin in that year’s semi-final on a scoreline of 1-15 to 1-11. With the benefit of hindsight, Gallagher gives a unique insight to what he feels were the reasons for Brigid’s shortcomings.

He also pinpoints the contrasting approach that Gall’s – with 2006’s semi-final loss experience to learn from – took prior to that chance for redemption four seasons later.

He told the Donegal News: “I’d a good experience and a bad experience. I was with St Brigid’s in Dublin back in 2003. We won the Leinster club title that year. It was the first time they’d ever won Dublin.

“They were riding the crest of a wave then through Leinster. We ended up losing the All-Ireland semi-final to An Ghaeltacht. Looking back, I felt we didn’t knuckle down.

“You do need a break. But you have to do another pre-season. You just have to. I felt we didn’t knuckle down, myself included, collectively. The other thing that was such a strange dynamic is that you have three months to worry about one team.

“Myself, personally, I got too obsessed with An Ghaeltcht because of who they were at the time.”

Eleven weeks will have passed since Gaoth Dobhair last kicked a competitive ball in anger. That, Gallagher says, for any novice at this level, can prove detrimental to hopes of finding that same level of momentum a further three months down the line.

St Gall’s had already learned that lesson the hard way by the time Gallagher came on board in Belfast back in 2009.

He explained: “At St Gall’s it was a different dynamic. And that only came from the experience they’d picked up. They’d been through it all before themselves. They knew how to handle it at the second time of asking. And they handled it really, really well. They took the break. But they came back and trained ferociously hard.”

Parallels are there to be drawn between Corofin and Gall’s. The similarities with Brigid’s and Gaoth Dobhair are also obvious. But Gaoth Dobhair can be an exception to that rule if they’ve got their approach to the last 11 weeks right.

“Corofin are on the go a long time,” Gallagher explained. “We actually played them in the semi-final that time. Kieran Fitzgerald was playing on that side too.

“I’d a conversation with Neil (McGee) about this. I said I hope they chose the right path. Sometimes you can play challenge games and they just aren’t competitive. I hope they’ve trained hard and I hope they’ve stayed focused.

“There is no doubt though Corofin will be experts at handling the waiting game. It’s going to be really interesting to see how Gaoth Dobhair approach this.

“I think if Corofin go on to win this they’ll be on the verge of being recognised as one of the outstanding club sides. That would take them to three I think in five years. There is nothing they haven’t seen. I was so impressed with them last year. They’d gone down to 14 men in the first minute (in the semi-final against Moorefield) for a harsh sending off.

“All of a sudden they changed their style of play. In a split second, they were able to adapt. A friend of mine was involved in a challenge game with them.

“He was really impressed with their understanding of each other. He said it was just incredible. They always seemed to know what the next man was doing. I just feel that tactically, the players themselves are very smart for a club side.”

Gaoth Dobhair boss Mervyn O’Donnell has taken every available opportunity to heap praise on the input and impact of coach Michael Boyle. O’Donnell has entrusted the Termon native with the job of building Gaoth Dobhair back up and to have them peaking once again come Saturday.

Gallagher knows all about stepping back outside that white line and looking to make a dent in the dugout. The transition of player to coach can be a tricky one. But Boyle seems to have made that transition impressively quick.

“It comes around so fast,” said Gallagher. “One minute you’re playing with Donegal and the next you’ve switched over. I can understand him going that direction. He would have been very hands on with Termon even when he was very young and still playing.

“I wouldn’t doubt that Michael has picked up a lot over the years. He’d have his own identity too I’m sure. He appears to be very good at getting his match ups right. They’ve done very well through Donegal and Ulster in that regard.”

Gallagher knows all about accelerated learning curves. He was there in 2011 with Donegal and Jim McGuinness. That side came from nowhere to win and Ulster title and almost squeezed through to an All-Ireland final. That was the genesis of course to what proved to be the most successful period in the county’s history.

Knowing so many of the Gaoth Dobhair players personally, he acknowledges that they are a special breed. He hopes they can find the answers to all the questions that so many of us have ahead of this hugely anticipated encounter.

He continued: “For so long they weren’t getting the most out of themselves. They’ve come now with a phenomenal group of young lads that have re-energised the thing. To be fair, I know how difficult it is for the likes of Neil and Eamon (McGee) there.

“They’ve done it all and were going so well with their county. It’s very difficult to be at the same level then for the club. With Eamon and Kevin (Cassidy) now out of it for a few years they’ve been able to give the thing a lot more attention.

“And the young lads with them, it really is a great mix. For lads so young they’re still providing great leadership. I’m really looking forward to seeing how they fare.”