Jim McGuinness says Donegal must pick themselves up and “go again” after yesterday’s disappointing defeat to Cork in Ballybofey.

Having led by as many as seven points in the first-half, the Tir Chonaill men slipped to a 0-17 to 1-13 defeat to the Rebels and, as a result, now enter into Round 3 of the All-Ireland SFC where their season will be on the line.

Speaking to media afterwards at MacCumhaill Park, McGuinness described his side’s defeat as “really disappointing”.

"There wasn't enough energy in us, there wasn't enough fire, there wasn't enough spark in us," he is quoted saying by BBC Sport NI.

"It's really disappointing to be honest with you, we didn't do enough in the game.

"Cork came and they had the game plan to try and slow the game and take the sting out of the game but from our own point of view we just didn't do enough.”

The Glenties man added: "We had a long road last year. We had four games in Ulster and we had three games in a group. We still went into the preliminary quarter-final because we lost a game against Tyrone.

"We've only played half the games that we played last year. That shouldn't be an issue, really. We just have to dust ourselves down.

"We've got to go again. When we wake up tomorrow morning and realise that we're still in the championship, even though we wanted to be heading to Croke Park on the back of this victory, particularly when you're playing at home in front of your own supporters, that's the part that gets stuck in your throat, really."

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