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Kieran McGeeney: Donegal won't get the appreciation they deserve even if they land Sam

He feels the Ulster champions have been exceptional but get undeserved criticism by certain parts of the media.

Sponsor Announcement for the upcoming Asian Gaelic Games Pat Murphy / SPORTSFILE Pat Murphy / SPORTSFILE / SPORTSFILE

KIERAN MCGEENEY DOESN’T believe Donegal will get the respect they deserve, even if they beat Kerry on Sunday to land a second All-Ireland in three years.

The incoming Armagh boss is a big admirer of the job Jim McGuinness has done with Donegal, but he feels he won’t get enough credit because of the style of football they play.

“Tyrone never got it and they got three (All-Ireland titles). It’s just the thing, just the way sport is. People have different opinions and it can be fed or it can be taken down.

“I think it’s fantastic. I also admire his ability to keep ‘schtum,’ on a number of things. The amount of abuse that they get compared to other teams. I just think that happens because we have people in the media from certain areas so if someone plays well against them that’s puke football or bad football or unbelievable football. I can’t see that.

“Donegal have been exceptional at what they have been doing over the last three or four years, as are Mayo and other teams. There are certain teams that just seem to get a bad rap.”

“Any other country that would class people as the bearers of death to football wouldn’t be allowed on TV.”

Mickey Harte McGeeney says Mickey Harte's three All-Irelands with Tyrone weren't fully appreciated Donall Farmer / INPHO Donall Farmer / INPHO / INPHO

As well as an extremely effective system, McGeeney recognises that Donegal have some top class players at their disposal.

“You look at the quality of footballer that they have, it’s not just the system. (Michael) Murphy and (Colm) McFadden are quality players, (Paddy) McBrearty and Karl Lacey are quality players. People like me would have had a thing about it because our team would have been similar.

“It’s a team of made up footballers. They know themselves what it takes to win. They play the same rules as everyone else.”

While Donegal struggled earlier in the year, McGeeney sees the role of Lacey, McFadden and McGlynn in particular as pivotal were they to beat Dublin.

“Karl was struggling a bit with injury, Colm didn’t play as normal and Frank wasn’t puncturing the gain line as much as he normally does. I thought for them to play well against Dublin those three would have to up their game. In fairness to the three of them I thought they were exceptional that day.

“If they have another game like that in them I would see no reason why can’t continue the form. Donegal were still good this year. Division 2 is very competitive. They got through it no problem.

“Monaghan beat them out here but they were still good and you knew they were going to give it a good rattle. It was hard to say that they were going to go the whole way but there were signs that they were going to be better.”

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McGeeney was speaking in Croke Park at the launch of the Asian Gaelic Games with First Derivatives plc, its’ Gold Sponsors. 

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