Donegal are preparing for 2026 without a number of influential squad players

Donegal are planning without the services of three influential squad members with the news that Niall O’Donnell, Aaron Doherty and Odhran Doherty won’t be part of Jim McGuinness' set-up in 2026. 

Naomh Columba clubman Doherty famously netted a brace of penalties in the 2024 Ulster SFC final shootout win over Armagh. 

However, he saw his minutes limited last season and while he was sprung from the sidelines in another provincial final win over Armagh, he didn’t appear in the All-Ireland semi-final win over Meath or the final loss to Kerry. 

St Eunan’s O’Donnell also saw his time on the field curbed in 2025. He did come on in the Ulster final, posted two points and was influential in pushing Donegal across the line. 

Injury though, interrupted his All-Ireland series and although he returned to the match-day squads for the knockout stages of the competition, he failed to feature in the games against Monaghan, Meath and the Kingdom. 

DonegalLive also understands that Odhran Doherty, another who impressively contributed in Jim McGuinness’ first season back at the helm, has also stepped away. 

Naomh Conaill’s Doherty memorably sliced over a fantastic equaliser in the 2024 Ulster final - a score that sent the game towards that dramatic penalty shootout win. 

There are others who have also dropped off but they are players that were on the periphery of matters over the past two seasons. 

McGuinness, though, has elevated some of the most exciting youngsters from last year’s club championships so there will be a real interest in how all of that freshens things up this season. 

With last week’s scheduled Dr McKenna Cup opener succumbing to the elements, Donegal instead now get set to begin the new campaign away to Antrim on Sunday. 

Naomh Columba’s Paul O’Hare and St Eunan’s Eoin McGeehin were both set to feature from the off in Letterkenny while the likes of Padraig Mac Giolla Bhride (Gaoth Dobhair), Ultan Doherty (Naomh Conaill), Cormac Gallagher (Termon), Max Campbell, Kieran Gallagher and Shea Malone (Naomh Conaill) as well as Four Masters’ Kevin Muldoon were all fresh faces on the bench. 

Muldoon’s Donegal Town teammate Seánán Carr was also amongst the replacements having seen McKenna Cup action two seasons ago in McGuinness’ first term back in charge.  

It’s believed another Four Masters pair, Conor McCahill and Turlough Carr, have made the cut, while MacCumhaills’ Sean Martin is also part of the new set-up.