McGuinness adds '20% to Donegal players' - Doherty

Jim McGuinness' Donegal side landed the Ulster Football title on Sunday after a dramatic penalty shootout victory over Armagh at Clones

Ulster Final penalty shootout hero Aaron Doherty says Jim McGuinness' coaching has improved each Donegal player by 20% since his return to the county manager's post.

Naomh Columba forward Doherty hit two of Donegal's successful penalties in their 6-5 shootout triumph over Armagh in Sunday's dramatic provincial decider at Clones after coming on as a second-half substitute.

"He brings every player on at least 20% of what you thought was their potential," the Glencolmcille man told The GAA Social podcast on BBC Sounds.

"He’s giving you an extra 20% every day. And he’s always hammering that home so that you don’t switch off. It’s just unbelievable to be honest."

Oisin McConville, who is The GAA Social's regular contributor alongside host Thomas Niblock, believes McGuinness will now be able to convince his players that they can go on to lift this year's All-Ireland title.

"If Jim McGuinness is at the helm yes, because he will instil that in them.

"They have work to do in order to be at that level. The other side of that is that they were at a level against Derry, at a level against Tyrone, at a level today and they win this.

"When you win something it puts you on to a completely different plane. They will enjoy this. This will unite them even more.

"Everything that they are going to be fed here on in [by Jim McGuinness] they are going to take it as gospel."

Glencolmcille man Aaron Doherty netted two of Donegal's six penalties in Sunday's shootout

Doherty, who along with team-mate Ciaran Thompson spoke to The GAA Social immediately after Sunday's dramatic conclusion, said that he had no hesitation in volunteering to take one of Donegal's initial five penalties before stepping up again to hit the sixth as the shootout entered sudden death.

"I would hit them for the club and I would have played soccer a few years back so I probably have that confidence of hitting them.

"I was fresh legs there compared to the others so I was obviously going to put my hand up with that experience.

"As you are getting to the fourth and fifth penalty, you are getting nervous and thinking ‘is this coming back to me?’ but you just have to prepare yourself and know where you are putting the ball. That’s the main thing."

Thompson, who hit Donegal's first spot-kick, added they hadn't "collectively practised penalties" as a squad but that he and other individuals had done so in the build-up to Sunday's game.

"Going up to the ball, you’re just thinking ‘hit the ball…..hit the ball as sweet as I can’," added the Naomh Conaill man, who was replaced by Jeaic MacCeallabhui late in normal time before coming back on for Patrick McBrearty late in extra time.

"That’s all I want. A good connection. Pick a spot. I picked my spot once we were picking the five [penalty takers]. I wasn’t changing and that was it."

Thompson said while Donegal's total focus over the past three months has been on the Ulster Championship that they will now go into the All-Ireland series Super 16s stage full of confidence.

"All our energy was on that but now we’re in a really good place. We’re going into the group stage of the All-Ireland.

"Your first battle with Tyrone at home. It doesn’t get any easier but we’re going to go in very confident and that’s what you want. We’re just going to see where it takes us."

'I thought Donegal were dead and buried'

2002 All-Ireland winner McConville believed his native county were set to win their first Ulster title since 2008 when they led by four points with 17 minutes of normal time remaining.

Addressing Doherty and Thompson, McConville said: "I thought energy wise you looked dead and buried when Armagh went four points up and you found something from somewhere.

"And you continued to do that and that’s been a trait of this team."

The BBC GAA pundit believes Kieran McGeeney and his backroom staff now face a huge task in lifting the morale of the Armagh squad after their fourth devastating penalty shootout championship defeat in less than two years.

"Armagh just have to lick our wounds and move on but it’s tough.

"That’s a recurring theme. That’s four penalty shootouts now. It’s an awful way to lose where as I’m sure it’s a great way to win."