DONEGAL HAVE been handed a considerable boost for 2017 with the news that two seasoned campaigners have committed to the cause again.
Karl Lacey and Frank McGlynn have confirmed to manager Rory Gallagher that they will be available again next year.
On the back of the retirements of Colm McFadden and Eamon McGee, there were fears that a raft of departures would follow.
However, Lacey and McGlynn will definitely be back, while there are high hopes that Christy Toye, Neil Gallagher and Rory Kavanagh will be in the green and gold again for 2017.
[adrotate group=”81″]The trio, who have made around 400 Donegal appearances between them, are still believed to be mulling over their options, but it appears more likely than not that they’ll be back on the carousel once more.
Lacey and McGlynn were others who had questions marks over them since Donegal lost to Dublin in the 2016 All-Ireland quarter-final in August.
“They’re two top-quality players,” Donegal manager Rory Gallagher told Donegal Sport Hub.
[adrotate group=”53″]“They’re two guys who now have kids and have given their all for Donegal so they don’t owe us anything.
“They want to contribute their best for Donegal and they want to play for Donegal, which says a lot about them, that they are willing to put their bodies and reputations on the line.
“They bring serious leadership to us and it will give everyone a lift to have them back with us again. It was refreshing news to hear that they wanted to give the commitment again.”
[adrotate group=”46″]It is believed that on-going hip issues mean that David Walsh will not be a part of the squad, while Rory Carr will be sidelined until late Spring because of a shoulder injury.
Gallagher, who was given a new three-year term – with the option of a fourth – as Donegal manager recently has a new team trainer following the appointment of Richard Thornton, who takes over from Jack Cooney.
Gallagher has called several new players into his squad. From the 2016 Donegal minor squad, Gallagher has brought up Enda McCormick (Termon), Aidan McLaughlin (Naomh Padraig, Muff), Jason McGee (Cloughaneely) and Eoghan McGettigan (Naomh Conaill).
Among the other new faces are Cian Mulligan (Gaoth Dobhair), Conor Morrison (St Eunan’s), Mark Coyle (Burt), Christy Fildara (Malin), Michael Langan (St Michael’s) and Brendan McCole (St Naul’s).
Coyle had been on the Finn Harps senior squad this year.
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