Seven takeaways from Donegal's successful Dr McKenna Cup campaign

Donegal to place faith in youngsters 

1: Donegal have lost some established firepower in the likes of Niall O’Donnell and Aaron Doherty dropping off the panel and Patrick McBrearty being forced into retirement because of a troublesome knee complaint.  However, the emergence of some exciting new attacking talent like Kevin Muldoon, Turlough Carr, Seanan Carr, Conor McCahill and Shea Malone in the McKenna Cup hopefully means Donegal have replenished that considerable hole. With Ciaran Thompson currently out injured with an ACL tear, and with McBrearty gone, the side will also need to identify a new left-footed free-taker for the league. With Michael Murphy and Oisin Gallen likely to remain absent in the opening rounds, Jim McGuinness will simply have to put his faith in some of the above youngsters. All of the aforementioned players will certainly be excited about the prospect of getting minutes at Croke Park on Saturday evening.