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19 Jan 2026
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19 Jan 2026
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Mark Curran first to the ball on Saturday night in Dr McKenna Cup final Picture: Sportsfile
The young Donegal supporters invaded the field as Ryan McHugh nailed the final point for Donegal. It prompted young Armagh referee Shane Murphy to make a good judgement and blow the final whistle.
For many of the Donegal panel it was a first ever Dr McKenna victory and looking at their faces it was a week and three wins that they really enjoyed.
Among them was Mark Curran and while he cannot be regarded as one of the young guys anymore, the Dungloe man’s demeanour during the game was of someone who wants to make 2026 count,
“Yeah, it was my first Dr McKenna Cup final and that is always good to win a competition,” said the Dungloe man afterwards.
It was obvious from the very first ball that Curran was up for the contest and he was in mean mood right throughout the game.
With the modern game allowing players more freedom, every county needs their man markers and Curran probably knows that has to be his role in what could be a very important year.
“I’m really enjoying football and the McKenna Cup was really good. If it wasn’t there we would be looking for challenge games. It was a good week for us,” said Curran.
“The games have a really high intensity. It is great preparation and the fact that it was over 60 minutes also helps. People are giving it everything.”
The Dungloe man has also been highly impressed by the big influx of young talent in the Donegal squad for the new season.
“They have come in and it has been seamless the way they have integrated. It has really been good for us.”
It also means that there will be plenty of competition for starting places and even for places on the match-day squads.
“The competition for places is great but that’s the way it should be.”
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Curran has been in and out of the first team for the last couple of years. Judging by the way he poured himself into the Dr McKenna Cup final on Saturday night, he wants to put his best foot forward in 2026.
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