(with Cathal Corey) of Naomh Conaill. Naomh Conaill lost that one but won the County Championship Final again the following year. McGuinness was joint-manager with Corey again in 2010. Donegal McGuinness was turned down several times by the Donegal County Board, on one occasion being thwarted by the lack of a plug socket for the projector needed for his PowerPoint display. "I was the only candidate [on the last occasion] and I struggled to get it", he said the week before Donegal took on Mayo in the 2012 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final. He had offers from other counties but held out, determined to become senior boss even when those at the top did their utmost to deprive him of the opportunity. McGuinness was interviewed for the role of Donegal senior manager in 2007 following Brian McIver's resignation, though McIver was reappointed after reapplying when he decided to carry on. One year later when the role became available again, McGuinness was still the youngest candidate. Under-21s The last time he was rejected as senior manager McGuinness was given the under-21 team to manage as a consolation. Brian McEniff, who had remained close to McGuinness since McGuinness was 19 years of age, recommended him after the County Chairman asked him to appoint the next under-21 manager. McGuinness guided his county to the 2010 All-Ireland Under-21 Football Championship final, in which they were narrowly defeated by Dublin. Seniors Appointment In July 2010, McGuinness, having led Donegal to the 2010 All-Ireland U-21 Football Championship Final, was appointed as manager of the senior team when his colleague John Joe Doherty resigned in the wake of a disastrous season. His first meeting with the downcast and "demoralised" senior panel occurred at Downings Bay Hotel on 6 November 2010. He outlined his intentions: to be in the 2014 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final after four years of hard labour akin to an Olympiad. McGuinness drafted Kevin Cassidy into his first McKenna Cup panel, despite Cassidy announcing his intention to retire the previous season's disappointing campaign. First year McGuinness's first year as manager proved successful, as Donegal gained promotion to Division 1 after defeating Laois by a scoreline of 2–11 to 0–16. Donegal's 2011 All-Ireland Championship campaign began on 15 May 2011, against Antrim. Both sides performed poorly; however, Donegal ultimately triumphed, earning their first Ulster championship win for four years. On his first start in the