Peter Canavan: Galway have the players but Jim McGuinness will have a plan

Peter Canavan reckons that Galway have the better crop of players if fully fit, but expects Jim McGuinness to have worked out a plan for them in Sunday afternoon's semi-final.

The Ulster and Connacht champions meet in an All-Ireland semi-final for the first time since 1983, when Val Daly's late goal broke Donegal hearts, denying them what would have been a first ever All-Ireland final appearance.

McGuinness, in his first season back in charge, has overseen a stunning revival of Donegal following their annus horribilis in 2023, when it was assumed they could be heading for a half-decade in the wilderness.

The mastermind of the 2012 All-Ireland success presided over a fourth Ulster title crown in his five attempts at managing in the competition and Canavan says the current crop have developed in a way that has surprised many observers.

"They'll only be a better team (than 2012) if they win it, simple as that," Canavan said on the RTÉ GAA podcast. "They are a different team. I don't think there's the same strong characters in this team than there was in the previous team.

"But I think they're a better balanced team. They're possibly a better footballing team, in that there's a lot of natural footballers all over the pitch.

"There's a big contrast in the teams, in terms of physicality. I see Galway having the edge in terms of bigger, more physical players and they can play a very defensive style of football as well.

"Whereas Donegal, it's a running game. It's about moving the game really fast and attacking the D at serious pace.

"And there's leaders starting to emerge, that people maybe weren't expecting. Ciaran Moore has come out of nowhere and has been really impressive for them. Oisín Gallen is emerging as a real leader, none