National Footbal League semi-finals: Ian O'Riordantalks to the in-form Kevin Cassidy about his committed return to the Donegal set-up.

Anyone still looking for a reason Donegal have been arguably the best team during the National Football League could start with Kevin Cassidy. As strong and fit and skilled as any footballer around, and also that he's there - as absent talent has been one of the main problems in Donegal in recent years.

The fact is Donegal haven't found it easy to field all of their best players all of the time, but Cassidy's return this year, along with Brendan Devenney and Eamon McGee, means they are now at full strength and fully committed. That's another reason - as absent discipline has been another of the main weaknesses in Donegal.

It's a year since Cassidy was infamously ejected from the Donegal panel. The night after their Division Two semi-final win over Westmeath, Cassidy had a meal with his girlfriend, and then bumped into his Gweedore club-mate Eamon McGee. They enjoyed five maybe six bottles of beer, went home, and played for the club the next day. When they showed up for Donegal training on the Tuesday night they were told by manager Brian McIver their services were no longer required.

Cassidy made a couple of appeals to McIver, sensing someone was greatly exaggerating their "night out", and that McIver was coming under pressure to act. A few weeks later McIver called up Cassidy and invited him back, but it was too late. Cassidy, an All Star defender in 2002, had decided to spend the summer in Boston.

"It was just a decision I made," he says, "to do some travelling. When I was younger, with college and that, I didn't get the chance. I looked at it as a break as well. I still watched all the Donegal games on TV and kept in touch with a good few of the players.

"But in the back of my mind I was always happy I'd be back next year. When Brian gave me the shout after I got back I was happy to meet up, and everything has been perfect since day one."

Still, here was one of their star players in the prime of his mid-20s watching, from 3,000 miles away, Donegal's run to the Ulster final and subsequent All-Ireland quarter-final: "Well yeah, I mean you'd always regret not getting to play an Ulster final in Croke Park. But sure everyone has regrets. You can only learn by your mistakes, and it's time to move on.

"Like I said, I knew I'd get back. I think we sensed there was a good team there, a lot of good youngsters coming through, and, like Brendan Devenney, I was happy to come back in, put the work in. And I couldn't be asking for anything more. Brian just laid down his plans at the start of the year, and everyone was happy with that. We've been sticking to it, training hard. Of course it's easy to be happy when you're winning."

It's clear Cassidy lives and breathes Donegal football, which is a little surprising considering he was born and spent the first 10 years of his life in Glasgow, before moving to Gweedore, the home of his grandmother. He knew only of soccer until the age of 10, and is still an avid supporter of Celtic.

He also knows Donegal may never escape the rumour of indiscipline, despite coming to Croke Park for Sunday's league semi-final against Kildare as the only unbeaten Division One team this year - and more determined than ever to prove themselves.

"Maybe that is the perception out there, that we still aren't as committed. But I think as players that's something that's driving us on this year, because no matter how good we're doing it keeps coming up with us, that we don't have the discipline as the top teams. I just know our boys have been training as hard as anyone else. We're using this as the chance to prove ourselves, just to show just how much a professional outfit we are this year.

"We know the championship is just around the corner. That's still what we're building for, and Sunday's game is another stepping-stone towards that. I mean Armagh are definitely in the back of our minds. Every training session we do, although we mightn't talk about it, they do come into your head. Because we know we'll be judged on the May 27th match, and it's up to us to keep it going until then."

Cassidy now operates at either midfield or half forward, coming off the bench last Sunday to hit 1-1 in the draw with Limerick. As Donegal close in on a first league title he's just one player they're glad to have back on board.

"Of course to win a national title would be brilliant," he adds. "We still don't have any silverware to show for the last six or seven years, losing I think five Ulster finals. So at least a National League medal would be some reward for all the effort you put in. And at the end of the year if the summer has gone bad for you then at least you've something in your back pocket."