We have plenty of work to do - Paddy Carr

Paddy Carr says Donegal are still finding their feet under his new managerial regime after they lost out to Down 2-14 to 1-10 in their McKenna Cup opener in Newry. 

With college and club commitments running simultaneously, Carr is understandably finding his early options stretched. 

In total, the new boss had to dish out ten debuts at Pairc Esler. The hope for Carr is that some of those new faces will be able to stake genuine claims by the time Kerry come to Ballybofey on January 29 for the start of the NFL. 

“It is the opening game of the year and there is such a  small window of opportunity to give lads, who have given so much effort in the last while, a chance to show they can hold their own at this level. 

“The reality of the game was that up until the three-quarter stage - had we taken a lot of really good chances - we’d have been right in it. But when you start throwing in ten and 12 subs on both sides, it disrupts the momentum of the game. 

“The action comes thick and fast. We’re out again on Wednesday night. The League is just around  the corner. We have a good few lads to come back in. But the ones involved today, they’re disappointed. They know there is more in there. But we’ve made a start now”.

In terms of the overall picture and what the Donegal management can actually take from their seven-point loss, Carr explained: “What we got out of it was that we know there is a lot of work still to be done. 

“In terms of joined up play, lads are still getting used to each other. We have to be more assertive in areas like the tackle. We’re working hard as well in terms of  the quality of the delivery we’re looking  to put in. 

“You just have to be fair to lads. We’ve brought such a huge number in. As well as Sigerson commitments, some of our lads were even out last night in U-21 club action. So it’s a work-in-progress at this stage”.