Final beckons as McGuinness and Donegal find the answers to Tyrone's questions

Questions and answers. There can be quite a lot of the former in media huddles after championship outings. Answers can be in short supply at times.

Jim McGuinness fielded questions for around a quarter-of-an-hour – an eternity in these sort of acts – after Donegal found the necessary solutions to solve a puzzle set by Tyrone on Sunday.

A passionate defender of the Ulster Championship at a time when the future of the provincial format is under constant scrutiny.

In his first stint as Donegal manager, McGuinness won three Ulster titles – and believes the Anglo Celt holds real prestige.

“For people in this part of the country, it is the pinnacle to go and play in an Ulster final,” McGuinness enthused after a gripping 0-18 to 0-16 extra time win at Celtic Park set up a clash with Armagh, another of their age old foes, in the final in Clones.

“Clones will always be a special occasion for everyone who gets that opportunity. We want now to try and do our best in two weeks' time.

“Two weeks will feel like three months for us in terms of preparing for this one. A lot of the analysis is already done because we have played them twice already so we're not starting from zero.

“We have an opportunity to quickly get up to speed with Armagh, but obviously that works two ways.”

In a titanic tussle, a late Patrick McBrearty point got Donegal over the line having needed a late, late point by Brendan McCole to take the afternoon into extra time.

The game was as level ten times in all. Tyrone led for much of the way, but Donegal found a way.

“That's why we love playing in it,” McGuinness said.

“That's why you love taking teams into it. It asks a hell of a lot of questions of you.

“We were in that spot at half-time. Tyrone were brilliant. They asked all the right questions of us and not allowing us to get into a flow.

“This is why it is so amazing to win the Ulster Championship. This is what you face every week. This is why players love playing in it. When you do eventually get over the line, you have earned it.”

Donegal kicked 15 wides and were behind by three points on two occasions in a compelling contest.

Niall O'Donnell was outstanding, Peadar Mogan often omnipresent, Ryan McHugh like a Rolls Royce polished for its summertime runs and Jason McGee a colossal figure as Donegal – buoyed once more by a sizeable support – earned a place in the showpiece.

“Sometimes you just have to suck it up and find a way to respond,” McGuinness said.

“We found a way to improve again. When you reflect, the character piece is always very important . . . There were so many moments where it could have fallen either way.”

Against the sponsors backdrop, a posse of microphones leaned towards Tyrone joint-manager Brian Dooher.

“To have to go to extra time twice in a week, Brian, it's bordering on cruel. It's a heavy ask?” came the question.

“Aye it is, but here you don’t want me going there where I went before.”

Often, the answer lies in the question itself.