Mac's View: McBrearty retirement will be a huge loss to Donegal

The news on Monday evening that Patrick McBrearty is retiring was a shock and it is a blow to Donegal for 2026. Patrick has been a great servant since coming in as a minor in 2011 and to win seven Ulster championship medals and an All-Ireland is staggering. He has also been a great servant to Kilcar and hopefully he can still play a part for them. But for now all we can say is thanks Patrick for the great memories you have given us over the past 15 seasons.

Christmas is almost upon us and it won’t be long until we see some intercounty action again with the Dr McKenna Cup beginning on the first Sunday of January with Derry coming to the O’Donnell Park, Letterkenny.

I will talk more about that game in the column after Christmas and I just can’t wait to see live action again. I’m sure Jim McGuinness is busy preparing for the start and it will be good to see some of the new blood which has been brought into the squad in action.

There are a couple of good games coming up in the club championships with our own Burt in action this weekend in the All-Ireland semi-final against Easkey Sea Blues from Sligo which is being played in the Fr Tierney Park, Ballyshannon. I would fancy Burt to win that semi-final and it would be great to see a Donegal team in an All-Ireland final to start 2026.

The Ballyshannon venue also has a very attractive fixture on the first Saturday in January when they host the All-Ireland Intermediate Club semi-final between Derry side Glenullin and Strokestown of Roscommon. That will be a very attractive fixture for anyone interested in getting out after Christmas.

On Saturday last my prediction about the Ulster Senior Club final between Scotstown and Kilcoo came to pass with the Monaghan ‘keeper Rory Beggan putting in a huge performance to get Scotstown over the line after extra-time. They had a messy start but I felt the introduction of Conor McCarthy made a big difference. It was good to see them winning it and what can you say about Rory Beggan, he was a man apart, scoring 0-11 of the 0-19 Scotstown total.

I was sorry to see that Four Masters bowed out of the Ulster Minor competition the following day but they did put up a fighting performance. They were 10 points down at half-time but fought back to within a point before conceding a late goal. They have had a great run in this competition and the rest might not be a bad thing for some of their young players who have been going since the beginning of the year at club, school and county.

Looking back at last week’s Convention, as expected it was a quiet enough affair. The most noteworthy thing to come out of the elections is the number of females that are now on the Co. Executive. 

When I started going to Co Convention there wasn’t even a female delegate. Noreen Doherty would have been the first to make the breakthrough and it is the same now in most clubs. Going back in time there were very few females involved but now they are making a great impact on the Association.

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Finally, this week I want to highlight a great night which is taking place in the Blue Haven, Kilcar on the Saturday after Christmas, December 27th, in memory of Michael Oliver McIntyre, who is 20 years gone this year. I’m really looking forward to the night. It should be a great social occasion with a lot of good GAA people there.

I remember when Michael Oliver came into the Donegal senior squad in the 1970s and then he came in with me as a mentor when I went back as manager in 2003 and 2004. He then took ill and we lost a great friend. Proceeds from the night are going to Palliative Care, Donegal.

Happy Christmas to all my readers and I hope you have a happy and healthy 2026.

Brian McEniff was in conversation with Peter Campbell