Jim McGuinness' stunning return has hit new heights with Donegal winning an absorbing Ulster Senior Football Championship final against Armagh after a dramatic penalty shootout.
The introduction of penalty shootouts has been a contentious topic and Armagh became the first ever team to be sent packing from the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship through the format in 2022.
They were beaten 4-1 by Galway in the quarter-final stage, before faltering again in the Ulster SFC final against Derry in 2023. There was even more shootout misery for McGeeney's men when All-Ireland history repeated itself last summer - Monaghan the victors on that occasion.
The sides traded points after a fiery start to Sunday's Ulster final, before Donegal reeled off consecutive points to boast a two-point advantage at 0-06 to 0-04.
However, Armagh responded accoringly to lead the fixture again through three quick-fire points from Conor Turbitt, before holding a 0-10 to 0-09 lead going into the break.
It's a real shootout between Donegal and Armagh in the Ulster final as we approach half time
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Armagh looked to have taken control of what was a cagey encounter, forging a four-point lead but Donegal showed serious character to bridge that gap, Paddy McBrearty smashing over from 40 yards to level at 15 points apiece.
Cometh the hour...
McBrearty does the trick for Donegal. What a fightback!
This. Is. Tense. 😬#BBCGAA pic.twitter.com/IrqlGYdwOK— BBC SPORT NI (@BBCSPORTNI) May 12, 2024
Armagh substitute Tiernan Kelly had the chance to pinch the win with the clock in the red after calling a mark, but could only pull his left-footed effort wide of the posts with extra-time looming.
Armagh would have been keen to avoid penalties having suffered three shootout defeats in the last three seasons, but it looked increasingly likely with the two sides still level midway through extra-time.
That dreaded shootout came around again on Sunday with the sides finishing extra-time level at 0-20 to 0-20 in Clones.
Both sides dispatched their first five respective efforts emphatically, before sudden death came and that is when Armagh faltered.
Shane McPartland tried to send his strike down the middle, but Shaun Patton stood his ground between the sticks to secure an 11th Ulster SFC title for Donegal on McGuinness' return.
It went to sudden death, but.....
DONEGAL ARE ULSTER CHAMPIONS 🏆
What a day of drama! 😱#BBCGAA pic.twitter.com/LaHGBURsr7— BBC SPORT NI (@BBCSPORTNI) May 12, 2024
It has been a remarkable return for McGuinness - who famously guided Donegal to Sam Maguire success back in 2011 before spending a decade away.
He steered his native county do Division 2 success in the Allianz League and has now outdone that feat by adding another Ulster SFC trophy to his resume.
12 May 2024; Donegal captain Patrick McBrearty lifts the Anglo-Celt Cup after the Ulster GAA Football Senior Championship final match between Armagh and Donegal at St Tiernach's Park in Clones, Monaghan. Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile
Jim McGuinness Shows Class With Message To Armagh After Shootout Heartbreak
However, the 51-year-old showed his class in his post-match interview, sharing his pride at his players but also taking time to send a message to Armagh.
It is very simple... You have to just keep going, keep believing and trust the process," McGuinness said in his post-match interview.
"I am immensely proud of them. They have come from a low base and climbed the ladder and now they are Ulster champions.
"It is everything. It is standards, how you train, focus, energy levels and sacrifice from your familaies. All of that plays a big part.
"Then you have to come together and say, 'Do we want to do this or not?' and they did. They worked hard.
"It is the culmination of months and months of work. That is what it is.
"I really feel for Armagh. I spoke to Kieran before the penalties started... I really feel for Armagh. They are a brilliant team, they are such competitors.
"We ended up on the right side of it today and it so easily could have been the other way around."
While McGuinness was keen to praise his opponents, both Peter Canavan and Kieran Whelan were keen to laud him with praise for how quickly he was revitalised a struggling Donegal side.
"You have got to hand it to the man," Canavan said on RTE.
"The biggest testament you could say about McGuinness and this squad is when they were in trouble today, they never stopped battling, they never stopped trying.
"Against Tyrone they were in this position as well, dead and buried but they kept coming back. They looked out on their feet but they didn't throw in the towel - they kept going.
"The transformation in such a short space of time has been remarkable. What he has managed to do with this squad of players is something else."
"They had a massive dip last year," Whelan added.
"He has come back and revitalised them. The energy he brings, the fitness levels he brings and more importantly the belief that he brings.
"That is what he is all about. He instils that belief to get over the line."
