Caolan McGonagle: Inish lads making their mark with Donegal

Caolan McGonagle says Donegal’s Inishowen contingent really stepped up to the mark in the side’s spectacular NFL win over Kerry. 

McGonagle along with Conor O’Donnell and Caolan McColgan, all played pivotal roles as Paddy Carr’s side upstaged the Kingdom by 0-13 to 1-9 in MacCumhaill Park on Sunday. 

Buncrana clubman McGonagle, alongside Jason McGee at midfield, helped tip the balance Donegal’s way around the middle third while Carndonagh’s O’Donnell nailed three points from play from wing forward.

But outshining all of that was ‘new ‘kid on the block’ McColgan who produced a stunning ‘man of the match’ winning performance from wing back. In his first NFL start for his county, the 20-year-old Naomh Padraig, Uisce Chaoin lad also posted a trio of overs. 

Speaking afterwards, McGonagle said it was a proud afternoon for Donegal and its Inish cluster.  

“It’s brilliant to see - and it’s important for the region to have that inclusion with Donegal. I was really proud to be honest. Three Inishowen men starting for Donegal at the one time, it was just brilliant. 

“I thought Conor O’Donnell stepped up at a time when it was really needed. And what can I say about Caolan. To come in and kick three points like he did from wing back, and take the ‘man of the match’ award, was simply brilliant”. 

Donegal had fallen 1-6 to 0-3 behind at one stage in Ballybofey. But they’d rally to trail by just three at the midpoint. Four unanswered points following the restart actually moved them in front. 

But in those blow for blow final exchanges it was Paddy McBrearty that landed the decisive score to seal a superb win. 

“It was a game that went right down to the wire,” said McGonagle. “Thankfully, we came out on the right side of things. The crowd really got behind us and that really was what pushed us over the line. 

“Coming into today, there were some question marks hanging over us. We’re under new management and Kerry are the reigning All-Ireland champions. Home games are really important in this league and we only have the three of them.

“So that was a big one there today in more ways than one”.