Donegal manager Brian McEniff was full of praise for the players

Donegal boss Brian McEniff was full of praise for his players after they had booked their first All-Ireland semi-final slot for 11 years.

In a nerve-tingling finale, McEniff watched his players show great resolve in dumping a fancied Galway side whose injury-time point last week took the game to a replay.

But Donegal again showed a great galvanising spirit to win 0-14 to 0-11 to set up an all-Ulster date with Armagh.

Donegal defeat Galway Match report

McEniff said that it was the players who deserved everything for their gargantuan efforts.

''I have nothing but praise for the players,'' said McEniff. ''They will simply magnificent. It was their day out there.

''The work rate and the endeavour was unbelievable out there. We might have left it behind last week, but we had it in the west of Ireland and I have to congratulate my players.

''I am also delighted for all those people back home in Donegal and all those travelling supporters. There must be over 10,000 at Castlebar.

I am so pleased for the players and very proud of them Brian McEniff

''But all credit to Galway, they played football with us all day long. There was nothing dirty and it was a good open match.

''But in Donegal we have very good footballers. Last year we enjoyed ourselves to o much in Dublin, and that probably contributed to our defeat in the replay then.

''You could say that they redeemed themselves on Sunday. So I am pleased for them and very proud of them,'' said McEniff, who had to pull off his star forward Brendan Devenney near the end.

''Brendan hurt his knee 15 minutes before the end, and the physio advised us that if we didn't take him off now, he would have no chance to be ready for the semi-final.''