Mac’s View: Jim McGuinness will be calling up some fresh faces for Donegal in 2026

I was delighted to hear that Jim McGuinness and the county squad are away on holiday as a reward for reaching the All-Ireland final. 

I believe they jetted out to Mexico last Friday. I’m not sure how long they are away for but I expect it will be for at least a week and possibly ten days.

Whatever length it is, they fully deserve it because they gave us a great summer. Unfortunately, things did not go right for us in that decider loss to Kerry. 

But, nevertheless, they brought us great joy and gave the whole county and Donegal people everywhere a great lift, and we have a lot to look forward to next year. 

The news that Michael Murphy is staying on is a huge boost for 2026. I have no doubt Jim and those working with him have been out scouting for new players during the championship. 

I’m also hearing that Jim might have added former Fermanagh manager Ciaran Donnelly to his backroom team. 

If that indeed comes to pass, it is a very good appointment because Ciaran is well-regarded as a quality coach and has a good football brain.

He is obviously being drafted in to replace Luke Barrett, who stepped down recently to further his education. 

Congratulations to Luke as well this week.  He is the coach of the Loughmacrory senior team, who beat Carrickmore in the Tyrone semi-final replay to book a final showdown with Trillick in the Red Hand decider.

Incoming Derry manager Ciaran Meenagh is also the Loughmacrory manager.  On the mention of county finals, congratulations also to Declan Bonner and our own clubman Paul Brennan on Erne Gaels’ comeback to draw with Derrygonnelly Harps, in Fermanagh on Saturday night, in Brewster Park. 

Of course, Shane Ward is part of the Derrygonnelly set-up, so there is still plenty of Donegal interest in matters outside of the county. 

I believe the draw and replay have given Declan something of a dilemma. Declan was due to head to America this weekend to see his son Cillian play American football for his college. I’m not sure what Declan is going to do. 

But I see the replay has been fixed for Saturday evening back in  Brewster Park. It is an unfortunate clash.

It was good to see the U-21B club championship get up on running last weekend, and it is going to be run on a group basis. 

It is going to provide a group of players with football for the next few weeks. But with college and third-level football, I’m not sure the U-21s are the ones requiring football at this time of the year. 

I think it is the older age group of club players who need games at this time of year. It is a long period of time, from the middle of September, when up to half the clubs in the county wrap up their playing season, until early March next year to go without games.

I feel something needs to be done about this and that vacuum needs to be filled.  I think it is certainly time to have a conversation on how best to fill what is a big gap in the playing season. 

The year is rolling on and we are into the last week or so of October, and I am sure Donegal will be getting back down to training again in preparation for next season. 

I believe county teams are allowed collective training from November 31. But squads are allowed to train in small groups and pods around the county in regards gym work. 

It is good to see the Dr McKenna Cup is back in the calendar again in its usual spot in January. It was a crazy notion to drop it on player welfare grounds. 

It actually created welfare issues as counties were organising challenge games regardless. 

And besides, it was financial madness and especially in Ulster and Connacht, where the Dr McKenna Cup and the FBD competitions were well supported and good earners for the respective provincial councils. 

The draw has not been made for the Dr McKenna Cup but I suspect it will in the next week or so.  And I’m really looking forward to it getting underway again. 

Brian McEniff was in conversation with Tom Comack.