Ryan McHugh is one of the Donegal players who worked with McGuinness during his first spell, winning an Ulster title in 2014 under the Glenties man before adding another pair of Anglo Celts under his successor Declan Bonner in 2018 and 2019.
The 30-year-old is thrilled to be back in an Ulster decider after a disappointing season a year ago.
“We’re delighted to be in the final,” he said.
“It’s been a tough couple of years in Donegal. We were competing in Ulster finals there for a number of years and the last few we’ve been well off.
“To be back in one is huge for the county.”
McHugh credits McGuinness for returning to the job at a time when the Tir Chonaill were “on [their] knees”.
“Jim and his management team coming back in has given not just the team but the whole county a massive lift,” he said.
“He deserves a lot of credit because he didn’t have to come back. He had proved everything to the county and the country before.
“He took us on when probably we were on our knees, to call a spade a spade.
“It’s given us all a huge lift.”