by John P Graham

Donegal star man Jamie Brennan just couldn’t stop smiling in the immediate aftermath of his side putting Ulster SFC titles back-to-back as they swept Cavan aside in what was at times quite a one-sided contest.

The Bundoran ace, who scored 1-4 from play in a man of the match performance, was delighted to win another Ulster medal and baulked at the suggestion that the provincial championships should be replaced with an alternative system. 

“Those people should be here today and you only have to look out there onto the pitch and see what this means to Donegal people. The Ulster championship is a very competitive championship and for us to put titles back-to-back now is very special and there is no way any other system could replicate that or give teams the same satisfaction of coming out top in the province," he said.

Donegal were well up for yesterday’s game, leading from gun to tape and with 12 players on the scoresheet.

“That is part of the ethos of our game” Brennan reflected, “that everyone, irrespective of where they play has to be a threat. Two of our half-backs scored and our two midfielders scored and two of our substitutes scored as well as all six starting forwards and thankfully today it all worked out.

"We have quite a number of players who are good at kicking points, Michael Langan, Eoghan Ban (Gallagher), Paddy McBrearty and Ciaran Thompson and that gives a good spread to our game and gives us options all over the park." 

Brennan was, however, a little reluctant to comment on his own scoring contribution.

“Ah I will take that and it’s nice to see them going over and as far as the goal is concerned, it fell nicely for me and I just pulled on it and thankfully it went in, but it doesn’t matter how they go in they all count”.

The Realt na Mara star was equally humble about being named as man of the match and spoke about it being a team game, rather than acknowledging individuals.

“I wouldn’t really look into that too much to be honest because for us It’s all about the team. You need everyone grafting for each other and we have been working hard now since last October and the work paid off today for everyone and everyone played their part, so we will celebrate as a group tonight and then look forward to the next challenge”.

He then paid tribute to team manager Declan Bonner and what he has brought to the team this year.

“He has instilled a great level of confidence in all the players, he encourages players to play off the cuf as it where, and doesn’t go for bringing too many systems or control tactics into the game. He likes players to do what comes naturally to them and to express themselves. We would have been disappointed with the way we finished up against Tyrone in Ballybofeyl and that really hurt but its great to get back now and putting titles back-to-back gives us a great deal of satisfaction”.

Next up for Donegal is the opening round of the Super 8s, something Brennan was already looking forward to.

“Yes that will bring a whole series of new challenges to us and we get a good start because we are at home in Ballybofey and hopefully that will bring out the big support because our supporters were fabulous here in Clones today.

"Home venue should be an advantage to us but we still have to go out and do the business, but whoever we come up against we will be ready for it. We will enjoy tonight and we’ll start thinking about that then next week."

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