A small group of youngsters stood around Karl Lacey at Celtic Park in the minutes after Sunday's absorbing Ulster quarter-final against Derry. It was the first time anyone could remember the Four Masters man standing still all afternoon.

His performance on Sunday was a roll-back-the-years type deal for Lacey. Well, two years, to be precise. His all-round covering and attacking mentality marked a heartening return to the game which earned him the footballer-of-the-year award in 2012.

A hip operation curtailed Lacey's effectiveness last season and Donegal travelled north to Derry city aware that across the country, questions were being asked as to what they had left.

“Listen, you know, we are not going to read into that,” he responded. “That is out of our control. People can say what they want to say. There are 30 lads there and the management team and we are a tight group. We will keep things tight and get back to the training ground. It is going to be as tough the next day against Antrim or Fermanagh and we can sit back in comfort and watch that in preparation for the next round.”

Trusted methodology

Sunday marked a return to trusted methodology and approach by Donegal. Their collective defence was hugely industrious and organised, they counterattacked with verve and most of all, they established control of the game. Having landed 0-4 with limited possession in the first half, they re-emerged after half-time and destroyed Derry for 20 minutes, registering 1-5 without reply.

“Yeah, we regrouped at half-time and Jim kept us calm. We knew we had it in the legs; that we had the training done and the fitness to push on and we did that in the first 10 or 15 minutes of the second half. Couple of great moves, couple of great scores and Leo’s goal was crucial for us.”

Leo McLoone's energy and ball-carrying abilities was one of the key components of Donegal's All-Ireland win. That quality was there in abundance on Sunday, with Frank McGlynn, Anthony Thompson and Lacey also running direct, attacking lines from deep in the Donegal defence when the opportunity presented. What made Lacey's adventurous approach all the more commendable was the fact he was also shadowing Mark Lynch, outstanding throughout the league for Derry.

“It was Jim’s call this morning and whatever job he gives you, you are going to do it the best you can,” Lacey shrugged. “I suppose he knew I had the fitness levels to mark . . . the likes of Mark. He had a great league campaign and that was identified during the week. It was great to get that performance under my belt and I’ll move on now.”

One win won't be enough to convince the sceptics that Donegal are capable of returning to the heights of 2012. Michael Murphy made it clear afterwards they aren't concerned with trying to emulate previous seasons: that their sole interest is in discovering what they can achieve this summer.

Steady progress

For Lacey, this year has been about a patient, steady return to the level of fitness and athleticism that has come naturally to him throughout his sporting life. The surgery to his hip, which took place during the autumn of 2012 was more of a hindrance that he had hoped.

“The operation took more out of me than I expected it to and it was frustrating last year. I never got to those levels that I would like to be at. Hopefully now I am getting there. You like to think after every training session that you are one step closer. That is the way I have taken it – one game at a time and we did some fitness work during the league.”

His attitude is easy to read and is transferrable throughout the camp. They don't really feel the need to prove themselves to anyone but themselves. They are in a place that works for them. "Every man is in good shape and it is a matter of pushing on and getting back to the levels we were at. There was a lot of pressure and question marks over the team since Mayo beat us in Croke Park last year. All we can control is what is in our dressingroom.

“Hopefully there are better things to come. We got promotion in the league and I know we didn’t show signs of that in the league final but . . . I’m going to repeat myself. We are working hard and are getting the fitness levels back. So we will push on towards the next day. There is no easy game in Ulster so we will see where that takes it.”

There is nothing more to say so he offered a courteous good luck and made his way to the dressingroom. “Give us your gloves, Karl,” a youngster chanced as he walked by. Lacey shook his head and explained he couldn’t do that. He said he wasn’t finished with them yet.