MacCumhaills digging deep in bid to climb Division 1 table

After a rough start in the league Sean MacCumhaills are beginning to tally up a healthy points total in Division 1, currently on a run of four games unbeaten.

After going close to the top end of the league table in 2024, it was looking a different story this season with defeats to Termon, Glenswilly, Naomh Conaill and Gaoth Dobhair.

Manager Gary Wilson didn't make any excuses for their start, but the correlation between their rise up the table with players coming back is strong.

Aside from Oisin Gallen up with the senior panel, Wilson has had to deal with the loss of Joel Bradley Walsh, who is playing with Finn Harps, while Aaron Gillooley has moved to Australia.

One man back from Australia for the time being is Gavin Gallagher, although he is yet to play, while the return of Under-20 county stars Sean Martin and Conor McGinty have been a huge boost.

And while both Sean Breen and Cian Mulligan took heavy knocks in the draw with St Michael’s on Sunday in MacCumhaill Park, Wilson is happy with how his side is looking after that difficult start in the league.

“If you want to win things then you need all your players and there’s no club in Donegal or Ireland who can be depleted of their players and win trophies and that’s the way it is.

“We had our own share of struggles but it was a credit to the lads, we were going down the panel and everyone who came in did what was asked of them, we just weren’t getting the rub of the green at times. 

“It could have been very easy to throw in the towel but they’ve dug deep and got seven points from the last four games. 

“Gavin is home but I think he’s only on a flying visit and he always lifts the group.

“Oisin obviously is doing great work up with the county and then Jamie (Keegan) is out with a concussion so he is a few weeks from coming back. 

“Kevin (McCormack) missed a large chunk of the 21s campaign and a lot of this but that was his first game back, on another day he buries the penalty but that’s football.”

The penalty from McCormack came off the post and it looked like a big turning point in the game as St Michael’s went three up, but that digging deep that Wilson mentioned was evident as Joe Boyle kicked a two point free in added time before Conor McGinty levelled from a free.

“We had our chances to win it and Michael’s probably had more chances. 

“We hit the post from the penalty and then we probably forced the ball which cost us a goal. 

“By our own measurements it would be a sub par performance but we’ll take responsibility in that. We didn’t play well but we got a point and we’ll move on. 

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“I felt we needed a goal, it was that type of a game and we gave an experienced side like St Michael’s to stay in the game and take the lead but I have to credit our lads for staying in the game, we were three down deep into injury time and Joe (Boyle) took the two pointer then Matthew (McGeehan) did well to get the free.”

Wilson has had plenty of experience coaching in the county, with roles within the Donegal Academy and ATU Donegal’s Sigerson Cup squad.

But he has recently taken up a role with Monaghan GAA as Games Development Coordinator and he is relishing the challenge with that.

“I probably have more time now than my last job. It’s an exciting role, I did a Masters in the ATU in sports practice so it’s taking that and applying that into the Monaghan set up. 

“We love the GAA and we’re all in it together. If we can improve Monaghan then it raises the standard in Ulster and everyone will benefit in some way.”