Donegal manager feels his team ran out of steam in the final stretch
Donegal’s Ryan McHugh and Galway manager Pádraic Joyce at the All-Ireland senior football championship semi-final in Croke Park. Photograph: Ryan Byrne/Inpho
“I think we were a more battled-hardened team coming down the stretch,” surmised Joyce. “If you look at the games we played – Mayo in the Connacht final, the Sligo game in the Connacht semi-final obviously we were in trouble but we found a way to win it, and then we have had Derry, Armagh, Westmeath, Dublin the last day.
The Ulster champions were aiming to progress to a first All-Ireland final appearance since 2014 but this was one of their more lacklustre displays of the season. Former Galway manager John O'Mahony is remembered before the All-Ireland semi-final at Croke Park. Photograph: James Crombie/Inpho The Tribesmen also had to protect against the euphoria of beating Dublin having a negative impact on preparations for this last four clash with Donegal.
“I think there were a number today that we wouldn’t be happy with. I think in the first minute Ryan McHugh was breaking through, there were two men pulling at him, he blew him for overcarrying,” said McGuinness. “I don’t really want to go there, it is what it is.”Joyce hopes his team captain, Seán Kelly, will be available for the final. Kelly was named to start against Donegal but failed to feature as he continues to be troubled by a hamstring injury.
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