Ciaran Whelan has questioned Donegal's desire in the wake of last Sunday's Ulster SFC final defeat by Monaghan.

The odds on Rory Gallagher's men regaining Sam Maguire in September have lengthened after a disappointing first half display ultimately cost them victory.

"Donegal have suffered the biggest setback to their All-Ireland ambitions in recent weeks. There was something not right about Donegal last weekend against Monaghan," Whelan writes in The Herald.

"The lack of intensity and the lack of desire that we have associated with this team was missing for some reason. For a team that is a long time on the road with a lot a miles of the clock their big players like Karl Lacey and Michael Murphy looked out of sorts. Granted you can argue that they have had the toughest road to travel from the preliminary round back in May, but in the modern game I do not buy that as an excuse.

"Jimmy McGuinness developed a culture of hard work in recent years. The plaudits that came Rory Gallagher's way in recent weeks may not be justified and it is hard to see where Donegal have improved in 2015.

"I would not write them off just yet because as a collective team we know they have a big performance in them. However, if the fire is still not burning in their key players I cannot see them beating Galway, Mayo, Dublin and possibly Kerry to win back Sam."

The 2012 All-Ireland champions will have a chance to get their championship campaign back on track against Galway next Saturday.

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