Donegal confirm return of Jim McGuinness as manager

Jim McGuinness has made a sensational return to inter-county management after being confirmed as the new Donegal senior football manager.

His re-appointment was confirmed at a specially-convened meeting of the county board on Monday evening, with Colm McFadden, Neil McGee and Luke Barrett named as part of his backroom team.

In a short statement this evening Donegal GAA said: "Donegal GAA is delighted to announce the appointment of Jim McGuinness as senior football team manager, following a meeting of Donegal County Committee," concluding that the term will be for three years with an option for the fourth year.

It marks an incredible return to the post for McGuinness, who presided over Donegal's rise during an unforgettable and revolutionary four-year stint in charge in the early 2010s, a period which yielded three Ulster titles and the county's second All-Ireland triumph in 2012.

The Glenties man, a long-time county player and a substitute for the first All-Ireland title victory in 1992, oversaw their remarkable transformation from also-rans to All-Ireland champions in just two seasons.

After guiding Donegal to a first Ulster title in 19 years in his first season in charge in 2011, McGuinness was subsequently castigated for the team's tactics in their narrow defeat to Dublin in the semi-final, with the term 'blanket defence' entering the Gaelic football lexicon.

While the narrative around the team remained hostile in the off-season, McGuinness' side continued to evolve at a ferocious pace, cantering to a second successive Ulster title for the first time in their history the following summer. Afterwards, they swept by Kerry and Cork in the All-Ireland to set up a final date with Mayo.

Early goals from Michael Murphy and Colm