Jim McGuinness was left unhappy with a number of refereeing calls but acknowledged that his side "ran out of steam" in the closing stages of their All-Ireland semi-final defeat to Galway.
The Ulster champions had been motoring well for the first three quarters, with the midfield pairing of Michael Langan and Ciarán Thompson contributing a combined tally of 0-06, while Oisín Gallen swung over 0-03.
However, their attacking game creaked badly as the tension ratcheted up in the closing stages, with several balls short into Connor Gleeson's hands while Gallen missed a crucial free in the 62nd minute.
Galway nudged ahead with a close-in free on 65 minutes after Thompson was penalised for handling on the ground, a decision which incensed the Donegal players crowded around referee Brendan Cawley - though TV replays seemed to vindicate the call.
McGuinness didn't address that decision directly, though his face darkened slightly when he was asked about refereeing calls, making clear he wasn't happy with a number of them throughout the game.
"I don't make comments about referees and I try to stay away from it," said McGuinness.
"There were a number that we weren't happy with. In the first minute, Ryan McHugh was breaking through, had two men pulling at him and he was blown for over-carrying.
"I don't really want to go there; it is what it is. These games can be decided by one or two moments. We'll take it on the chin."
Leaving aside refereeing gripes, McGuinness acknowledged his side's wayward shooting in the second half - after a reasonably efficient display in the first - was central to their downfall.
"I suppose the summary of it will be that we converted five of 14 in the second half. We converted 10 of 14 in the first half. That's probably the summary.
"We ran out of steam a wee bit coming down the stretch and Galway looked a wee bit more battle hardened than us. Maybe the experience of a couple of years ago was beneficial to them.
"Losing Eoghan Bán was a big loss and a big moment in the game. He had made a brilliant incision and was fouled and we had the free kick. Those driving runs were missed coming down the stretch.
"It is a tough one to take, it is a really, really tough one to take, but that's football. You know, these moments.
"Big games are decided on moments and there were a couple of moments there when the rub of the green wasn’t with us as well.
"The game ended a two-point game. The goal was very fortuitous. We had two brilliant blocks, defensively, and the ball fell to a Galway man. You know after two brilliant defensive blocks.
"So those wee bits and pieces as well, sometimes you’re thinking.. you know, Oisin (Gallen) missed a free, like he could kick that over in his sleep."
McGuinness returned to the Donegal hotseat after finally submitting to pressure from senior players who had launched a campaign to get him back involved. The 2023 season had been a write-off and they were thought by some outsiders to be embarking on a dreaded transitional phase.
After this campaign, they're Ulster champions again - McGuinness winning his fourth Anglo-Celt in five attempts as a manager - and reached another semi-final.
While the manager said he was proud to "re-establish Donegal" as a contender in 2024, he readily agreed it was an opportunity lost given the unusually open nature of the championship this year.
"People talk about year one – there is no such thing, there is no such thing," McGuinness said. "It's this year. This was an opportunity this year and we had an opportunity and we felt we were in a really good position at half-time and felt if we kept it together, push it on for another 15 minutes we could potentially see the game out.
"It didn’t pan out for us that way and we have to take that on the chin, move on from it and take as many learnings from that as possible.
"You’re right, 2024 was on the line today. Armagh grasped that nettle yesterday and they’re in the final. We played them three times this year, we didn’t lose and good luck to them and good luck to Galway as well."
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