Mac's View: Great to see movement on county managers for 2026

I was very happy to see that there is movement in confirming managements at the various levels in Donegal for 2026. Congratulations and best wishes to Mickey McCann, who has been re-appointed as hurling manager for next year.

The Burt man had another great season with Donegal performing at possibly their highest level in many a year and he can build on that next year.

I also hear that our chairperson Mary Coughlan reported to Co Committee on Monday night that progress is being made on firming up the various other county management teams and she was due to meet them and discuss the future.

I’m sure that Jim McGuinness will bring some changes to his backroom team and it is no harm to freshen things up. They didn’t have a good All-Ireland final, but up to that they gave us a great summer. But it doesn’t do any harm to get fresh ideas and you need strong people but just enough. I can recall that I had Mickey Lafferty, Seamus Bonar and Naul McCole and also a very good trainer in Anthony Harkin.

There will be a need for Jim to have his team in place for the coming weekends as the club championships reach the quarter-final stage. After this weekend the games will be staggered and there will be an opportunity to see every match in the various championships. You would be hoping to get some new blood into the squad. I was listening to the Kerry manager, Jack O’Connor, on the radio at the weekend when I was travelling to Dublin and he was even talking about getting new blood in for 2026.

We need to unearth a few more for the panel and the opportunity will be there for players to show their wares over the next month or so.

CLUB CHAMPIONSHIPS

The championships in all grades continue this weekend and there is a lot at stake with knock-out places at both ends of the table.

There are four games in the senior championship on Saturday and four more on Sunday.

We’ll start with the game in Ballyshannon on Saturday evening with Aodh Ruadh hosting Killybegs. It’s a must-win game for Ballyshannon as they have no points but it will not be easy against Killybegs, who have been going much better with the return of their two county men Hugh McFadden and Eoghan Bán Gallagher. There is a lot to play for but with Aodh Ruadh’s backs to the wall, I’ll give them the nod to get the win.

St Naul’s have Downings in Mountcharles and Na Dúnaibh men have surprised many with some good performances. Their win away in Kilcar was a big result and they have only lost out in their other games by small margins. However, St Naul’s have home advantage and if they have Stephen Griffin back to augment their county men, they could shade it. They have had a run of drawing the big teams but this is an opportunity for them.

Termon can expect that St Eunan’s will take a full strength team to the Burn Road on Saturday evening and that might tip the scales in favour of the Letterkenny men. Termon have a very good young side and winning the league was  no mean feat. But if St Eunan’s are at full strength, you would expect that they will prevail.

Glenfin and Ardara in Glenfin should be another very close game. Ardara have been going well but were well beaten by high-flying MacCumhaill’s. Likewise, Glenfin have been on a losing run and even with home advantage it might not be enough. I’ll give the nod to Ardara but any of the games on Saturday even could end in a draw.

On Sunday there are four more games and each one of them is very attractive.

Kilcar have Glenswilly in Towney and this should have an edge to it as Glenswilly need points to ensure they are in the play-offs. However, it is unlikely that Michael Murphy will be togged while Patrick McBrearty could return after missing Kilcar’s game against Killybegs. If McBrearty plays I expect Kilcar to just about edge it.

On the subject of Michael Murphy, I did hear on the grapevine good news that he will stay on for another year with Donegal. You must remember that he had a very good year and if Donegal had won the All-Ireland final he was in pole position to be named Player of the Year. He was in great shape although playing 11 games in 16 weeks was a huge burden on someone of that age. I feel it was too much for any amateur sportsman. If  he has an injury he must give it time to rest and fully recover before he resumes playing.

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Dungloe will welcome Four Masters to Rosses Park and they will be favourites to remain in top place. They are going really well again this year while it looks as if the youthful Four Masters will need another year at least to reach the level. I fancy Dungloe to win.

There will be a cracking game at the Centre of Excellence with MacCumhaill’s hosting Gaoth Dobhair. Both teams are going well with Gaoth Dobhair winning all three games and MacCumhaill’s winning two and drawing one. I think MacCumhaill’s might have more firepower up front and could edge it.

The final game is in Glenties with Naomh Conaill hosting St Michael’s. I’ll go for Glenties just because of their experience in championship, but with big (Michael) Langan playing out of his skin, this could be close.

Brian McEniff was in conversation with Peter Campbell