Everyone seems to be waiting for the fall. Sure, aren't Donegal the masters of implosion? The county blessed with magnificent footballers, with equally suspect temperaments.
Last year two of their most gifted players quit before the season arrived. Kevin Cassidy reacted to the disciplinary measures of new manager Brian McIver by booking a flight to America. Brendan Devenney was sick of being pulled, raked, dragged, punched even, by Ulster's finest corner backs.
He went back to soccer.
"Two different worlds. The intensity of Gaelic is a different level. In soccer, just the way they play, training as a result is a lot more relaxed. In Gaelic training has to be very focused and quite serious almost all the time. Soccer doesn't need to be like that because the game isn't like that. You often see people on a soccer pitch having a laugh or a joke where in a Gaelic match you are not allowed to smile."
Despite the loss of Devenney and Cassidy, by high summer the new regime had produced a highly competitive outfit. There is player depth in Donegal now. Devenney was devastated to be watching from the sideline while still in his prime.
Well, he's back, and he came down to Dublin yesterday to collect the Vodafone Player of the Month award for March. The super-charged defender Barry Dunnion picked up the February accolade.
Why did you quit and why are you back?
"Particularly in Ulster, there is a lot of negativity around the football. I was going into matches just thinking 'am I going to enjoy this?', because at the end of the day I am an amateur footballer so the only reason I am playing is to enjoy it. I wasn't enjoying it.
"The likes of Armagh were that bit ahead of us. It just seemed to be coming up against opposition that was that bit too tough for us. That bit better organised.
"If you lose Ulster finals - I was part of teams that lost three of them - it just takes a lot out of you. But that has changed for Donegal with Brian and the management team he has with him."
We asked McIver a week back what had changed. He said little. Devenney supplied several examples of the new mental fortitude. Turning around potential defeats against Cork, Mayo and, most impressively, Kerry have them in line for silverware for the first time since 1992.
"Two years ago we played in Division One but Paddy Campbell wasn't playing, Karl Lacey was just coming into it, Eamon McGee was just maturing as a footballer. Now this year they are our full-back line and one of the best in the country. That added to a nice mix of youth and experience in the team, plus a massive hunger. I think this last couple of years under Brian our preparation and attitude has been up there."
It's only a springtime revolution. Armagh are first up in the championship then Tyrone so it could all still crumble.
• Thomas Walsh has been cleared to play for Bray Emmets Club and for Wicklow's county team. His transfer application came before the Leinster Council in Portlaoise last night and was granted after a 25-minute hearing.Mick O'Dwyer had picked him twice before to face Waterford and Meath but his name had to be withdrawn after Carlow County Board objected to the transfer application being approved.
