McGuinness hails ‘breath of fresh air’ Finnbarr Roarty

Jim McGuinness was again complimentary of teenage sensation Finnbarr Roarty as he put in another brilliant performance at the weekend.

Roarty was famously brought into the spotlight last year after making a McKenna Cup appearance when ineligible, as he wasn’t in his eighteenth year when 2024 started.

The Naomh Conaill man then impressed for his club side in the league and championship and has nailed down a starting spot for Donegal in 2025.

From the Donegal side defeated in last year’s All-Ireland semi-finals, the team hasn’t changed much, with many pointing to the re-addition of Michael Murphy.

But Roarty’s influence in the full back line has been huge and his ability to turnover possession, along with getting on the score sheet for a couple of points, has been important.

The 19-year-old scored two points against Louth and won the ball back on numerous occasions.

And it’s up there with one of his most impressive performances of the campaign, along with his Ulster quarter-final showing against Monaghan, where he had a similar terrific game.

Read Next: Magic number 50 for Ciarán Thompson with first Donegal goal on half century cap

And McGuinness will be hoping for the same again when they meet the Farney men in Croke Park on Saturday.

“He's a huge favourite there with the crowd because he's just so honest and works so hard and he wins balls and he turns balls over that probably he shouldn't at times, and he's so young. 

“He's like a breath of fresh air for everybody watching him. But for me the most important adjustment that he's made is on the ball, he's always been a brilliant tenacious defender the whole way up through the ranks but now he's playing at senior Inter-County level and he's difficult to take the ball off as well, and no matter how good you are defensively if you're going to give the ball away in attacking phases you know it can cost the team. 

“But he's been excellent at that and very good agility and very good at avoiding tackles and he adds so much to our attack as well as you say with Ciarán Moore and these other fellas coming from deeper positions.”