Former Donegal attacker Brendan Devenney feels the Tir Chonaill County got their approach to the season all wrong with last year’s All-Ireland finalists suffering a shock Round 3 exit to Dublin at Croke Park on Sunday.
On their last visit to the venue in March, Jim McGuinness’ side took Kerry apart as they strolled to a 13-point win and seemingly copper-fastened their status as genuine Sam Maguire contenders.
However, their eventual four-game championship season included losses to Down, Cork and Dublin, bringing their season to a shuddering halt.
Devenney, speaking to RTÉ Radio 1’s Inside Sport, said that Donegal’s full tilt at the league title was a mistake.
“Derry a couple of seasons ago under Mickey Harte, flying in the league, touted as All-Ireland champions and fell flat on their face.
“Roscommon did it a couple of seasons before, got the league final and really looked like they were going to do something in the championship.
“You’d have to say Donegal did the same.
“I think there was a wee bit of a hangover from the All-Ireland (final) and instead of Donegal maybe finding their way into the season, they came in at very hard.
“They won the McKenna Cup and when they won that league final in the manner that they did in the back of my mind, I was thinking, ‘here, we’re going too high tempo here. This is not the time for this type of a game.’
Jim McGuinness’ side lose three of their four championship games this season
“You’re glad you won the match but, really, if you look at it now, every second half [in the championship], it was terrible.
“Down, absolutely terrible.
“We wouldn’t know what would have happened in Kerry because the man (Micheal Burns) was sent off.
“Second half against Cork, absolutely shocking.
“If the energy isn’t there then everything else is gone. I thought it was really telling in extra-time, (Oisín) Gallen got a ball around the middle and he was swamped by four Dublin players. They were all over him.
“If the energy isn’t there then everything else is gone”
“Then (Charlie) McMorrow comes through for that goal chance and he hits the post. He waltzed through the Donegal defence and I thought to myself ‘there it is.’
“Donegal were gone. They were out on their feet and they were gone and Dublin were bringing the energy.
“Donegal completely overcooked the league and got it wrong this season, you’d have to say, in terms of a team that was supposed to have a tilt at an All-Ireland.”
All eyes in Donegal are now on the future of Michael Murphy and, to a lesser extent, Jim McGuinness.
The Glenswilly ace sensationally came out of retirement ahead of the 2025 season and won a fourth All-Star as he helped Donegal to last year’s All-Ireland final, where they lost out to the Kingdom.
McGuinness, meanwhile, has completed the three-year term handed to him on his return to the hot-seat with the county, although he has the option of the fourth year should he wish to exercise it.
“It’s a big ask to come back (for Murphy), particularly as it’s not like last year,” Devenney continued.
“Jim took the job for three years with a possible fourth year, so we’re not sure how that’s all going to break down.
“It would be a massive thing for him to come back again because the levels have just gone up and up every year.
“It’s been huge for him to be in the last two years and get his body back in that shape.”
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Watch two All-Ireland Football Championship quarter-finals, Louth v Monaghan (1.45pm) and Galway v Dublin (4pm), on Sunday from 1.15pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player. Follow our live blog on RTÉ.ie/sport and RTÉ News app and listen to commentary on Sunday Sport on RTÉ Radio 1