Declan Bonner feels that Donegal paid a heavy price for ‘inconsistency’ over the last three years after stepping down as Donegal manager after five years.
The 1992 All-Ireland winner guided Donegal to back-to-back Ulster titles in 2018 and 2019.
However, Donegal bore obvious scars after losing to Cavan in the 2020 Ulster final and they were beaten by Derry in this year’s provincial decider having slipped against Tyrone in a semi-final last summer.
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“It was the inconsistency over a period of time that let us down,” Bonner said.
“There was one match in particular I felt summed it up - the 2022 McKenna Cup final. We didn’t come out of the blocks in the first half. We had a superb performance in the second half and almost caught Monaghan at the end.
“When we did perform, we performed as well as any team in the top tier.
“There are such fine margins in top-level sport. Ulster titles aren’t easy won. We won back-to-back, only the second time in Donegal’s history, and we were very close to making history in winning a three-in-a-row.”
Bonner has been mulling over his future since a chastening 3-17 to 0-16 All-Ireland qualifier defeat by Armagh last month. He had a year left on his tenure, but this week told the Donegal players that he was leaving the role.
The 56-year-old addressed delegates on Monday night at the July meeting of the Donegal county committee at the Donegal GAA Centre in Convoy.
He said: “I enjoyed every minute of it. I didn’t think that I would go back in. I was 20 years flat to the mat from I went in as a player in 1983 and it has been flat to the mat for the last ten years.”
The Na Rossa clubman succeeded Rory Gallagher in September 2017 having previously held the post from 1997-2000.
Across his two tenures at the helm, Bonner managed Donegal 104 times.
He said: “I felt a huge honour to play for and manage Donegal at every level from under-16 to senior. I am one of the lucky ones.”
The Donegal County Board will select a three-person sub-committee to oversee the appointment of a new manager.
Clubs have until 5pm on August 15 to submit nominations.
Donegal Chairman Mick McGrath said: “I respect Declan’s decision and he can leave here with his head held high. He has been a dedicated player and manager for our county.”
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