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21 Jan 2026

Seven takeaways from Donegal's successful Dr McKenna Cup campaign

The real business starts now as Donegal go away to Dublin in the NFL on Saturday evening but here are some things boss Jim McGuinness and his players will take from winning the McKenna Cup

Seven takeaways from Donegal's successful Dr McKenna Cup campaign

Daire Ó Baoill was excellent in the win over Derry at Celtic Park

3: McGuinness content to stick with what he knows on sideline 

So much of the close-season talk centred in on Luke Barrett’s departure and who would come in to replace the Milford man. Having departed to “study for a Masters”, plenty of eyebrows were raised when he suddenly reappeared, weeks later, as part of Ciaran Meenagh’s Derry backroom team. Pressed on the desire to fill that gap after the Antrim win, McGuinness says that he’s quite happy to continue to lean on Neil McGee and Colm McFadden. If someone can add value to that, he’ll consider bringing them in but, if that doesn’t happen, he’s more than happy for the Donegal ‘think-tank’ to remain a trio. 

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