Turlough Carr hopeful of Croke Park bow after impressing in McKenna Cup

Donegal’s Turlough Carr is hoping to get a first competitive appearance in Croke Park this weekend as they face Dublin in the first game of the National Football League Division 1 campaign.

Jim McGuinness’ men begin their campaign with a trip to Headquarters on Saturday (throw-in 5pm), and the Four Masters man will be in contention to start after an impressive McKenna Cup campaign.

Carr was one of the few Donegal players to start all three games over the six days for Donegal and never looked out of place in his first year up with the seniors.

And after winning the McKenna Cup in Healy Park on Saturday, attentions have turned to the first league match as he looks to make an impact at the home of the GAA.

“I’ve only ever played there once in the Go Games at half-time for the school, but never since, so it would be a bit different this time!”

“Dublin will be a big one, and we’d be hoping to get a first win. They’ll be the same with a new manager, and they’ll be hoping to put down a marker.

“It was a short campaign, but the coaches have been very good, and we rested and rotated very well. Us young fellas got a good run out, so we’re happy.

“Everybody has got a good run out in the McKenna Cup, which is great, and hopefully the young lads can keep getting minutes in the league.”

Carr is a first-year International Business student at DCU and has been playing with the freshers' side in North Dublin since September, before getting the call-up to the senior panel, and has been playing for both sides since.

Still only 18, he admits it has all happened quite quickly, from going in for trials to getting three starts in a week.

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Travelling up midweek has been helped as his brother Seanán and Kevin Muldoon are also in the panel and studying in DCU.

“I got a call from Jim, and it was fairly short notice during the trial period. I was up in Dublin studying, but luckily, we got our place.

“We’re doing a load of driving, but they’re not expecting too much of us now, and we’ve been given good rest. Whenever we’re needed up, they’ll call us, but we’re in Dublin most of the time.

“I’ve settled in well, the boys have been very good, and you have leaders in that team like Hugh McFadden and Dáire Ó Baoill who are directing you.

“I think a lot of us have thought the same that we might just be in the Under-20s panel this year, but there are six of us up, and it’s a great experience. Even if we aren’t kept on with the seniors, then it would still be great bringing that down to the Under-20s.”