Donegal corner-back Peadar Mogan has been one of his team's most devastating attackers en route to this afternoon's All-Ireland semi-final.
Despite having number four on his back, last year's All-Star defender has scored, assisted or been fouled for 0-21 as his team have gone through the Ulster Championship and All-Ireland series to set up this last-four clash with Meath.
Often fulfilling a key role in Donegal's zonal defence, Mogan has also started and finished, as well as being a devastating late addition to numerous Donegal attacks. All in all, he has scored 0-13 from play in nine games, as well as contributing 0-06 in assists and two more points after being fouled for a converted free.
Meath's ability to shoot from distance for two-pointers, and their spread of talented scoring forwards, will likely put pressure on Mogan's usual role, protecting the zone in front of the Donegal full-back line. Ultimately, Robbie Brennan's team will need to keep Mogan focused on his defensive duties and ideally assigned to a forward.
Peadar Mogan has made a massive impact inside the opposition arc
Drifting in and out of that pocket to pick up dangerous runners as required, or sometimes scrambling back from failed attacks, Mogan has made seven clear turnovers for his team during the successful provincial campaign, the All-Ireland group games against Cavan, Mayo and Tyrone, the preliminary quarter-final against Louth and last time out against Monaghan.
A tenacious tackler who is always quick on his feet and front-footed within his team's zonal defence, Mogan's biggest defensive contribution is the dangerous space he fills and closes off. This also means he is regularly and intentionally in prime position to surge out of the Donegal backline with possession or as an unmarked overlapping runner upon any turnover. Donegal will often set up to allow him to enter the 11 v 11 in the opposition half at pace to create a plus one.
Jim McGuinness's team is packed with fast and strong running defenders who can inject pace from deep to stagnant attacks or initiate them in the first instance with direct ball-carrying and support play. Mogan is the most lethal of the lot, and his role in the team sets him up to be exactly that.
As well as the 0-21 he has scored or assisted the 26-year-old has had a relevant involvement in the move for a further 0-16. Meaning he's had a hand in a total of 0-37 for Donegal in their nine games which equates to an involvement in over 0-04 per match on average, more than half of which he has scored or assisted himself.
Peadar Mogan's blistering pace has started many Tir Chonaill attacks
His importance could also be underlined by the period in which he was off the field against Mayo after being shown a black card, during which the Ulster champions failed to score.
It was a game in which he also missed a chance to further add to his impressive scoring tally as he dropped an effort short from under 30 metres out while he also struck the post for a two-pointer off his weaker right boot. However, he only came on for 20 minutes during his team's defeat to Tyrone.
He is not only Donegal's top scoring defender in the 2025 championship, but of all the remaining teams in the All-Ireland, no defender has scored more than him.
Dessie Ward had converted 0-16 on Monaghan's journey to the final eight, while the electric Craig Lennon had amassed 1-11 for Louth as they ended their long wait for a Leinster title before also bowing out to Donegal in the preliminary quarter-final. Both players are attacking half backs, and Mogan will fancy his chances of surpassing their tallies if he can get two more performances under his belt.
His assists included a pop pass for expert two-point scorer Daire Ó Baoill in the Ulster Championship against Down, as well setting up Ryan McHugh for a score in the same game. Another handpass assist set up Oisín Gallen for a point against Armagh in the Ulster final, where he had a great goal chance of his own well saved. He assisted Conor O'Donnell for a point against Cavan after passing across goal, only for his team-mate to palm over rather than under the bar.
Against Louth he assisted his fellow defender Finnbarr Roarty for a point – the young corner-back has 1-05 so far this championship.
Half-backs Ciaran Moore and Ryan McHugh have scored 1-07 and 0-05 respectively, meaning the trio – along with Mogan – have accounted for 2-30 from play ahead of the meeting with the Royals.
Peadar Mogan was rewarded with an All-Star in 2024
All but one of the 20 scores Mogan has converted, assisted or been fouled for took place within the scoring arc with 60% of them taking place in and around the D, such is his box-to-box running power.
Against Monaghan in Donegal's quarter-final victory, the corner-back had 17 involvements with 11 of them taking place in the opposition half including two points each within the Monaghan 13-metre line. He also made an important interception within his own 21, and was involved in the build-up for two more scores.
Last season his 0-13 in eight games up to the All-Ireland semi-final earned him an All-Star, however neither he, McHugh nor Moore scored in their eventual semi-final defeat to Galway. This game may well be decided by Meath's ability to contain Donegal's defenders from an attacking perspective, in a similar way.
To keep Mogan and co on the back foot though will be easier said than done.
Watch the All-Ireland Football Championship semi-final with RTÉ Sport. Meath v Donegal on Sunday from 3.30pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player. Follow live blogs on rte.ie/sport and the RTÉ News app. Listen to commentaries on RTÉ Radio 1. Watch highlights on The Sunday Game at 10.15pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player
