Derry 'a handy start' for Donegal jokes Jim McGuinness after Ulster SFC draw

Jim McGuinness says his "ground zero" Donegal team will have to be on "top form to compete" with a Derry team coached by Mickey Harte in next year's Ulster SFC opener.

McGuinness joked that Saturday's draw against the three-in-a-row seeking Oak Leafers was a "nice handy start" for a county that suffered relegation to Division Two this year and a disappointing championship campaign.

"Mickey will have them in fine fettle. They are going for three in a row so we know we’re at. In the bigger scheme of things, we will probably consider Derry a top-tier team. We’ve a couple of tiers to reach over the next couple of years hopefully," added McGuinness who was appointed to the Donegal job for a second time in August.

"Nobody would put the fear of god into you more than Mickey to be honest with you. He definitely kept me up late many’s a night in years gone by.

"I’ve great respect for him and what he does. I’m delighted to see him back."