Dungloe’s Conor Diver relishing Donegal opportunity

Conor Diver is one of the fresh new faces Donegal manager Mickey McCann turned to when putting together his squad for the 2026 hurling season.

The 22-year-old Dungloe native had played U-16, minor, and U-20 intercounty and had been a member of the senior development squad a couple of seasons ago. 

And off the back of a number of eye-catching performances for Dungloe in last summer’s club championship, he got the call from McCann.

And after some good performances in the Conor McGurk Cup - the pre-season warm-up competition, he made his League debut in Donegal’s runaway win over Fermanagh in their second round clash in O’Donnell Park. 

Playing at right half-forward, he capped a good first start with two points in the facile 3-35 to 0-9 win over the Ernesides. 

“It went well for me,” he said. “I scored a couple of points, and overall, I was happy enough with my game, and I think Mickey was happy enough with me too.

“Hopefully, I can hold onto my place now. But the competition for places is keen, and there are a number of lads also fighting for spots, which is good for the team.”

Conor is a dual player and also plays senior football for Dungloe.

“I enjoy both hurling and football, and I have no preference. I try to play as much football as I can fit in. 

“But for the next few months, all going well, hurling will take up most of the time. We have four more games in the league and hopefully a league final, and then we are straight into the Christy Ring Cup.

“So, unfortunately, all going well and I keep making the team, there will be very little time for football.” 

Born and brought up in a traditional football area, Conor was first introduced to hurling at an early age through his friendship with Thomas and James Hartnett, sons of Cork man Cormac Hartnett.

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“I was six at the time and was buddies with Thomas and James, and they were always playing hurling. 

“So I joined in, and I liked it. But I was into all sports, including football and soccer.

“But I really only started to take it more seriously when I was ten. Cormac started a hurling club, and we were playing in underage competitions. 

“And it really took off from there. And the more I played it, the more I liked it and the better I got. I then started to make county underage squads and now I’m in the senior squad.

“The reality is, if Cormac Hartnett did not come to live in Dungloe, I would have never got the chance to play hurling and to play for Donegal. 

Obviously, I’m very grateful to Cormac for that, as are all the young lads in the area who he also introduced to the game.”  

Conor is one of four Dungloe players in the current Donegal senior hurling set-up. The others are former Limerick All-Ireland U-21 winner Ritchie Ryan, now a Dungloe resident, James Hartnett, and Cormac Hanlon. 

Donegal face Armagh on Saturday, in round three of the Division Three League, in O’Donnell Park. 

With two wins under their belts over Tyrone and Fermanagh, Donegal are sitting top of the standings on score difference ahead of Wicklow, Roscommon, and Louth. 

That jostling pack are all locked on four points with Fermanagh and Armagh yet to pick up anything. 

“Training has gone well, and the mood in the squad is good after the two wins, and we will hope to make three wins from three games on Saturday against Armagh."