Things, however, change quickly in football. One bad result, one poor performance blighted by individual displays that were desperately disappointing, changes everything.

Donegal's drubbing by Tyrone in the Ulster championship semi-final is firmly in that category. There were players missing from the expected first choice line-up. There were times when the ball refused to bounce with any sort of fair balance.

And, of course, there was the little matter of the Tyrone game plan operating to maximum effect in every facet of the contest. It made the match a no contest. When it comes to Gaelic football, players that had been expected to continue serving up a blend of consistency and confidence can sometimes fail those tests, especially in a one-off contest.

More than most at times Donegal supporters have repeatedly had to come to terms with that self-evident truth. But it doesn't make it any easier to accept, even when expectations are pitched at an unrealistic level.

In recent weeks, both Donegal and Monaghan have had to endure the reality of the pain that comes with being beaten.

In both instances a Tyrone team lacking nothing in physical power and mental toughness handed down the defeats.

Donegal can offer no real excuse for the thrashing they were handed by Tyrone at the semi-final stage of the Ulster championship. What made it all the more difficult to comprehend was that this was the same Donegal side that had finally managed to get the Armagh championship monkey off its back. It didn't really matter that the defining moment in the match hinged as much on the momentary indecision of Paul Hearty in the Armagh goals. Brendan Devenney's high Hail Mary ball somehow ended up in the net.

The late, late appearance of Colm McFadden on the very margins of the square may have stretched the rules with elastic ease. But all that mattered to Donegal was that their prayers were answered.

Against Tyrone the prayers went unanswered. It meant that Donegal had to do its football penance through the qualifiers. Wins over Leitrim and Westmeath were different in terms of the quality provided by the opposition.

The first was an extra-time decider chiselled out after a knife-edge encounter. The second over Westmeath was almost embarrassing in its comfort zone ease from start to finish.

All that's in the past. There will be little of comfort in next weekend's meeting in Omagh between Donegal and Monaghan. In the Ulster final Seamus McEnaney's team came within a couple of points of upsetting the carefully laid plans of Tyrone.

Deficiencies in some areas of the Tyrone defence allowed a young Monaghan team to come close, too close at times.

But ultimately it was Tyrone that still had the extra class and composure.

The intriguing aspect of next Saturday's meeting between the two team's hinges on which team has learned more from the Tyrone trauma. Donegal, even without the trio of McFadden, Roper and Dunnion, were dismal.

At times in the final stages against Monaghan, Tyrone were hanging on. If makeshift full forward Vincent Corey had been able to show some crucial composure Monaghan might still be celebrating. But he didn't. Pride in the performance rather than joy in victory has been the compensatory factor.

How both teams cope with the psychological impact of losing out on their championship target will have a role to play in Healy Park.

The capture of the League title was the first national honour won by Donegal outside the reign of Brian McEniff. A Donegal team packed with scoring potential and flair and excellent technique was nothing new. The traditional Donegal style of open football has meant the county has never been short of neutral admirers.

But up to the Tyrone debacle there was also something different. The new set of players was a group that appeared to have found the key to getting rid of the nearly men tag.

The long exile in the football wilderness was supposed to be over. Taking the qualifier route march through Leitrim and Westmeath has given Donegal two vital matches in which to come to terms with their deep disappointment.

It has provided the Donegal players with an insight into the harshness of being of alsorans. They have survived being placed in that category.

The more critical bonus is that they can also call upon the services of key individuals against Monaghan.

Of the three extra players now available, the steel edge provided in the halfback sector by Barry Dunnion is one that represents the biggest bonus. The continually driving presence of the Four Masters player has been curtailed by a troublesome Gilmour's Groin injury. It ruled him out of the Tyrone tie and the subsequent qualifier matches.

An operation at a specialist clinic in Munich has allowed the 23-year-old to regain maximum fitness. Dunnion's defensive covering and tackling strength, allied to his counter-attacking power, is a combination Monaghan would have wanted kept on the sideline.

The welcome return to competitive football of Paul Finlay for Monaghan in the Ulster final from that same sideline couldn't disguise certain match rustiness.

The leadership qualities of the talismanic midfielder, linked to an even sharper return over the full 70 minutes, will pose many problems for Donegal.

Overall, however, Monaghan appear to be in the more difficult position. Until they take the field against Donegal it is impossible to quantify how they have coped with coming to terms with being so close and yet still so far away from that breakthrough Ulster title. But they have not had the benefit of any additional matches in which to help heal their championship wounds.

Donegal have had more time to face their disappointment demons. The mental markers provided by negotiating those two qualifier obstacles should be enough to keep Brian McIver's team on the All Ireland reference grid.

ALL IRELAND SFC QUALIFIER, ROUND THREE MONAGHAN v DONEGAL Saturday, Healy Park, Omagh, 7.00