Caolan McColgan earned his way back into Donegal reckoning - Jim McGuinness

Jim McGuinness says Caolan McColgan’s efforts on the training field were just too good to ignore when he sat down to pick his starting XV for Cavan at the weekend. 

The Naomh Padraig, Uisce Chaoin man wasn’t even in the first 26 for the Ulster SFC final triumph over Armagh and also didn’t feature last time out against Tyrone.  

But McGuinness, acknowledging that he’s built up a slow but impressive head of steam in recent weeks, said he justified his inclusion at the weekend in a 3-26 to 1-13 drubbing of the Breffni County. 

Not only did he hold the usually busy Cormac O’Reilly to a single point but also got up the other side to slam in a crucial goal. 

Pressed on his coming in from the cold, McGuinness says McColgan’s application on the training field merited the opportunity to catch the eye. 

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"He had to bide his time, he didn't make a 26 and that probably annoyed and frustrated him. But he got his head down and he started working really, really hard. 

“And other players have been in that boat as well and that's what you want. He's a young lad, and he's still developing. 

“There are things there that we're still working on with him but he does have a lot of serious pace and a lot of raw talent and really gets you up the field.

“So we were just trying to focus on them things with him, but the reality is when he was showing in training that he was bringing an edge, and he was bringing an intensity, he deserved the chance.  

“That’s what you want. People will come in, and people will come out and every county in the championship that's left are managing and dealing with injuries. 

“So it's so important that you have as many players around the edges as possible that can come in and do a good job.”