DONEGAL EXITED THE Dr McKenna Cup following their 2-14 to 1-6 loss against Cavan in Ballybofey yesterday.
County Under-21 manager Declan Bonner has been handled the mantle for the curtain-raising competition, to use as preparation for their assault on Ulster in the Under-21 competition in March.
Harsh lesson in the end
DONEGAL opened their Dr McKenna Cup campaign with a spirited 2-20 to 4-13 loss against UUJ seven days’ beforehand. However, yesterday the margin by the conclusion was 11 points against Cavan.
The home side were level at half-time – 1-2 to 0-5 – and might well have gone in ahead with Ethan O’Donnell denied a second goal when his shot cannoned off the head of Cavan’s Padraig Faulkner, who knew little or nothing about it.
Even at 50 minutes, Donegal were just two down, 0-10 to 1-5. However, Cavan finished much the stronger as Bonner’s young team found the going tough late on against the side who are in the Allianz League Division 1 in 2017.
“We knew that the legs would go, “Bonner said afterwards. “We knew that the last 15 minutes would be tough. The boys put in a big shift out there. I don’t think the scoreline was a reflection on the work we put in.”
[adrotate group=”53″]Whilst some bemoaned Cavan’s superior fitness, it must be remembered the date circled on their calendar is their league opener, at home to Dublin on February 5.
Donegal, in terms of the Under-21 Ulster Championship, have Tyrone away in what promises to be a do-or-die quarter-final, but that’s not will March 15. Therefore, the fact that Donegal were seen to be behind a Division 1 senior panel in fitness with so much more time to work with is understandable.
Five more debutants
In from the off yesterday were Moville goalkeeper Dylan Doherty and Ciaran Gibbons, who popped over a point similar to the one he bagged for Glenswilly in the final of the Michael Murphy Sports & Leisure SFC against Kilcar in October.
They would be joined in the second half by Milford’s Dáire Black, while Cloughaneely’s Jason McGee and Naoise Ó Baoill from Gaoth Dobhair were also taken on by Bonner.
There’s always been a suggestion that some of those who appear in the Dr McKenna Cup might not ever feature for Donegal seniors; that notion being particularly strong this season with an Under-21 panel being used.
However, giving a player an inter-county appearance at senior level is always a boost to the given player, one which might continue to spur them on in regards the county and to give them something to take back to their respective clubs. It also provides a decent incentive to those who are not currently involved.
[adrotate group=”81″]Players are set to return
ASIDE those who took to the field yesterday for Donegal against Cavan, Bonner has more options at his disposal in the coming weeks as he hones in on Tyrone.
Buncrana’s Caolan McGonagle, who featured under Rory Gallagher last year for the seniors, and Cian Mulligan from Gaoth Dobhair are currently representing DCU, while Killybegs’ Eoghan Ban Gallagher – impressive against UUJ – and Jamie Brennan from Bundoran are with IT Sligo.
Christian Bonner of Na Rossa and Aodh Ruadh’s Colm Kelly are involved with NUI Galway and Lorcan Connor, Downings, is playing for UUJ.
There’s also Kilcar’s Stephen McBrearty and Niall Friel from Gaoth Dobhair, both of whom are on the short-term injury list.
McKenna Cup provides little indications
IN 2009 and 2010, Donegal were back-to-back winners of the Dr McKenna Cup under the management of John Joe Doherty.
And since Jim McGuinness took over for the 2011 campaign, Donegal have not so much as reached the semi-finals having seldom gone gung-ho in January, with Maxi Curran – then Under-21 manager – taking the troops in 2013 and Bonner doing likewise this term.
Donegal have appeared in all six Ulster SFC finals since 2011, whereas, following victorious Dr McKenna Cup campaigns, were eliminated from Ulster at the opening hurdle in 2010 and 2009.
Tyrone, on the other hand, won five successive Dr McKenna Cup titles from 2012 to last year, which was the first year in that sequence that they also took home at Anglo-Celt Cup as Ulster champions.
Yesterday’s loss to Cavan, albeit heavy one in the end it must be said, is still worthwhile experience for Bonner’s panel.
[adrotate group=”46″]And next it’s Tyrone
TYRONE manager Mickey Harte remarked that Martin McHugh’s decision to play a weakened UUJ team in Carrickmore yesterday was “disheartening”.
Ryan McHugh, Patrick McBrearty and Lorcan Connor were late withdrawals from UUJ against Tyrone, who are aiming for a sixth Dr McKenna Cup triumph on the bounce this season.
However, it must be noted that the UUJ side that won in Ballybofey a week beforehand was also short of a handful of players that are likely to feature in the Sigerson Cup.
In a fixture that was rearranged following Saturday night’s postponement at Healy Park due to adverse weather conditions, Tyrone won 2-17 to 0-7.
“They just want the games for match practice in preparation for the Sigerson,” Harte said afterwards. “As you can see a lot of their key players were not there that was making it more disheartening for us.”
With Tyrone having lost their Dr McKenna Cup opener this season, 1-13 to 0-12 at Breffni Park, Harte’s side still have a chance to progress to the semi-finals and keep up their exemplarity recent record in the competition.
And that means they will be gunning for a win and a win with decent margin of victory against Donegal on Wednesday.
