'The road is hard now' - McGuinness on Down defeat

Donegal manager Jim McGuinness acknowledged "the road is hard now" after his side's shock 3-21 to 1-21 Ulster SFC quarter-final defeat by Down at O'Donnell Park.

The Tir Chonaill men came into the game as heavy favourites after claiming the Division One league title by hammering All-Ireland champions Kerry, while Down needed extra-time to eventually see off Wexford to take the Division Three crown.

"A difficult, difficult day at the office I suppose, but it's one we are going to have to take on the chin," McGuinness told BBC Sport NI.

"There was a lot written about Down during the week and a lot of things said in the media about them, which I would say was pure fuel for them in many respects. They came with a game-plan and they nailed it."

Depending on the draw, Donegal will now have to wait four or five weeks before their first All-Ireland opener, where they will have to travel away to one of the provincial finalists.

"The road is hard now, there's no doubt that the road is hard, we just have to get ready for that," McGuinness added.

"We now have four or five weeks to get ready for the All-Ireland series and we will.

"We weren't one percent off today and that's the problem, we had a lot of things that were off today, our normal levels weren't there for some reason, we had had injuries and all of that, but we'll have to take it on the chin."

The big news ahead of throw-in was that Donegal would be without the services of the influential Michael Langan, who was not togged out as part of the match-day panel, but was still sitting amongst the rest of the extended panel.

"Michael (Langan) rolled his ankle in training and he hopefully will be okay in the next week or so."