Daddy Cool: Caolan McGonagle set to hit 100 mark for Donegal at Croke Park

It’s been a busy few weeks for Caolan McGonagle with the Donegal powerhouse set to join the county’s centurion club at Croke Park on Saturday evening. 

The Buncrana native turned 30 on January 9, the same day he and partner Ciara welcomed baby Oisin into the world. 

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McGonagle also lifted the McKenna Cup on Saturday night last as he captained the side to victory over Monaghan at Healy Park, Omagh. 

It’s closing in on a decade now since Rory Gallagher gave McGonagle his senior bow, where he was a late replacement for Ryan McHugh in a 3-15 to 0-7 drubbing of Down in Newry. 

Almost a century of appearances later, McGonagle is now one of the side’s firmly established campaigners. 

And looking on at how Donegal went about their business in the pre-season competition, he believes the side ticked all the necessary boxes ahead of the start of the NFL. 

“I think we’ve got exactly what we needed out of the McKenna Cup,” he said. “We have new faces, they’ve got a taste of things at this level and they’ve done really well. 

“Even for the rest of us older lads, we’ve come in in drips and drabs and it’s good as well to get minutes into our legs. 

“Seeing the quality of the new faces in training, I’m not surprised they’ve looked as comfortable as they have. 

“The Donegal U-20s last year, they weren’t that far away. They were just about beaten by Tyrone, who went on to win it. 

“So it’s an exciting time for those lads and for supporters too who want to see what they can offer at this level.” 

Donegal get down to serious business on Jones Road at the weekend against a Dublin side under new management and looking to put a seriously disappointing 2025 behind them. 

Two-time All-Ireland winner with the Dubs, Ger Brennan, has stepped up to the plate in the capital after leading Louth to a historic Leinster title win last summer.

That ended a 68-year provincial famine for the Wee County but Donegal would make light work of them in the All-Ireland series with a 16-point drubbing dished out at Croke Park en route to the quarter-finals. 

However, back at the same venue, Brennan will no doubt feel the playing field has now been levelled as he looks to revive Dublin's fortunes.

“For the new lads, they’ll be excited about getting to Croke Park as it’s what you dream about as a kid,” McGonagle explained. 

“But even for the older lads, it’s still special. Underlights against the Dubs, it’s always a great fixture. They are under new management and will be targeting a good start. 

“The last week or so has been very encouraging but the real test for everyone starts now”

McGonagle wasn’t actually aware that he was closing in on an appearances milestone. But given how busy life has just become, you can’t really blame him. 

The actual breakdown of his 99 games so far reads: McKenna Cup (22), League (48) and Championship (29). 

“I wasn’t actually aware of that to be honest - I knew I was probably close! Seriously, it goes in so quickly. Especially with the games they way they come so thick and fast now. 

“That’s something nice, a milestone to be proud to hit. And again, Croke Park, that’s a wee plus”. 

Under McGuinness, McGonagle has transitioned from a midfielder to a gatekeeper of sorts at centre-half back. 

He has spent the last two seasons at No. 6, either side of the introduction of the Football Review Committee’s (FRC) new playing rules. 

McGonagle says the game has certainly changed in the last 12 months but says most of the previous principles around the middle third remain in place. 

But he says that with teams still adapting to the changes, the game remains in a state of flux. So who knows how that will impact 2026. 

“It is a different game around the edges, behind you and in front of you, maybe. But for me, on the whole, there is still that same heavy traffic. 

“A lot of the same principles still apply around that sort of middle third. Again, it’s just one season under the belt, under the new rules, so who knows how that will evolve in 2026”. 

A fortnight into night feeding and nursing baby Oisin back to sleep, there are no obvious signs of any black bags under the eyes just yet. 

But even if they do come, McGonagle will no doubt take it all in that big stride of his, just like he does on the field of play. 

“No bags under the eyes just yet thank god! It’s been brilliant. It’s a big change but a really nice change too. Everyone is well, thank god, and that’s the main thing”.