18 players identified during club championships - Donegal boss Jim McGuinness 

Jim McGuinness says he will be replenishing his Donegal senior football squad ahead of 2026 with 18 new faces being drafted in on a trial basis. 

McGuinness was speaking at the Abbey Hotel on Saturday night as his players were presented with their Ulster SFC medals at the official Donegal GAA banquet. 

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The side went back-to-back in Ulster with a dramatic extra-time win over Armagh and subsequently blazed a trail all the way to the All-Ireland final. 

And while they came up short there, the manager says there is so much to be optimistic about ahead of the new season. 

“Following the club championships, we’ve identified 18 players for a trial process,” he explained. “Outside of that, if there is a player in your club that you feel deserves to be looked at, we’re happy to look at them.

“If there is talent out there; one club this week has already reached out to us and the conversation around emerging talent must remain open”.

 The Donegal team and its backroom staff recently returned from their holiday in Cancun, Mexico and looking ahead to 2026, McGuinness explained that respite means all the focus is now once again ready to shift. 

“The reality is we’re back to ground zero. And it’s going to take a huge amount of work to get back to where we were. 

“But we do have a plan in our head. And we’ll get back to business very shortly and look to go again. I have to say we’re all looking forward to it”.