McShea's Say: Current fixture schedule is impacting club championship negatively

After three rounds of championship football in all grades, it would be fair to suggest that the quality on offer has so far been disappointing.

Maybe we were spoiled spending a few weekends in Croke Park supporting our county team, but the disappointment of the final defeat is still lingering.

But the awful fixture programme, which sees no county football until the New Year, is simply depressing, and the sooner the people responsible for creating such incredible nonsense come to their senses, the better.

Some years ago, the All-Ireland club finals were played in Croke Park on St. Patrick's Day.

It was a most appropriate date and a wonderful occasion for the clubs involved, and a special way to celebrate our national holiday. 

Why that occasion was changed, I do not know, while the hollow excuse that the current fixture programme is in the best interests of clubs is simply absolute rubbish. I was at the Aodh Ruadh match against St. Eunan’s ten days ago, and the attendance was disappointing. 

There was a distinct lack of championship atmosphere, and while the Letterkenny side played lots of good football, I am convinced that the fixtures in their present guise have had a very negative effect on club football. 

While the GAA do much right, we do not seem to have the ability to admit if something is not working, and the reluctance to accept or admit mistakes is wrong. 

The other own goal was bringing the All-Ireland finals away from September, and it is no coincidence that so many Donegal players were unavailable for their clubs after the rigours of county football for almost two months nonstop.

All the talk of player welfare pales into significance after such a gruelling season in a county jersey. 

When championship time comes around, we always look forward to the emergence of two or three players who may have the ability to graduate from club football to the county scene.

It would be great to discover another Finnbarr Roarty or Ciaran Moore, but so far I don’t believe that a glut of potential has emerged.

Ethan Harkin from Gweedore is playing very well, while Four Masters have some talented prospects on their team. Kevin Muldoon does have the ability to progress to inter-county football, and the Reids and Carrs are players of outstanding ability. 

But it is very noticeable that Patrick McBrearty and Ryan McHugh are still Kilcar's go-to men, and Oisin Gallen has played superbly for Sean MacCumhaills so far.

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Oisin will no doubt be the player who will lead the Donegal attack in what will be a long and distinguished career in the Donegal jersey. So, all Donegal’s legion of fans will hope to see more quality football from some club players before the end of this championship campaign.

Sean O Donnell RIP

It was with much regret that I learned of the death of Sean O’Donnell from Dungloe. Sean was one of the greatest players ever to wear the Donegal and Dungloe jersey. 

I had the honour of playing with Sean when I was first selected to play for Donegal, and I always remember the warmth with which he greeted me when I first became part of that Donegal team.

In a contact sport, Sean, thanks to his verve and athleticism, was a non-contact player. All manner of players tried to mark Sean out of a game, to intimidate him, and treat him roughly, but Sean would merely glide along, riding tackles and brushing bigger, more physical players aside like leaves. 

Sean was a firm believer in what he considered to be the University of football excellence, and he was a graduate of that University. 

He was also a very talented athlete, and his pace from half back was a serious asset to the Donegal side in those years. At a time when Down were the leading side in the province, Sean made the Ulster number five jersey his own. 

Off the pitch, Sean O’Donnell would fit the description of ‘one of nature’s gentlemen’, and it was a privilege to have spent time in his company both on and off the pitch. To his family and many friends, I extend my sincere sympathy.

Jack is back

The news from Kerry this week that their All-Ireland manager, Jack O’Connor, has extended his term as ‘Boss’ is in no way surprising.

It would have taken little deliberation for O’Connor to make what was an expected decision after his team’s excellent display in defeating Donegal a few short weeks ago in the final.

Kerry are installed as favourites to retain Sam when next year's championship gets underway, and with the squad of players that Jack has at his disposal, it will take an exceptional side to dethrone them. Donegal, even after this year’s disappointment, are currently second favourites, and we all hope that a positive rating will be achieved in the New Year.