McShea's Say: Donegal Academy latest leaves more questions than answers

On the week that Donegal play Mayo looking to retain their Division 1 status, the issue of Donegal without an Academy takes priority in my mind. 

In recent weeks wonderful servants of Donegal football, both on the pitch and off it, Anthony Molloy, Damien Diver, John Gildea, Declan Bonner and Eamon McGee were all at one in their desire to see Karl Lacey return to his position as Head of the Academy. 

Bonner said, ”We have got to get him back, and whatever needs to be done just has to happen”. All Ireland winning captain Molloy said that Karl Lacey’s departure as Academy head was “a very backward step for Donegal”.

And Eamon Mc Gee said that the loss of Lacey was akin to Donegal having the winning Lotto ticket but deciding to flush it down the toilet”. In Donegal, at this time, there are no coaches because the majority of them walked away when Karl left in January. 

Lacey has an MSc in Sports Performance and is academically equipped for the role he excelled in. The fact that he is the only Donegal player ever to win four All Star awards is testimony to his outstanding ability as a footballer.

It was another reason why he had the absolute respect of the coaches who held him in the highest esteem. It is suggested that the relationship between Karl Lacey and some members of the executive committee deteriorated towards the end of 2022.

Cahir O’Kane wrote this week that Lacey was apparently on Rory Kavanagh’s ticket when he was in the frame to become Donegal manager. It was further explained that Kavanagh had Jim McGuinness on board in some sort of advisory or background capacity. 

Rory, for whatever reason, then decided to withdraw from the management process but McGuinness - that same Irish News article suggested - was still available to help to coach the team, whoever was appointed manager. 

However, that three-man committee appointed to find a new manager did not engage with Jim McGuinness on that offer. During his tenure as Academy Head, Karl never received a job specification for his exact role. 

It’s was revealed that the 2012 All-Ireland winner and Footballer of the Year requested €1,000 at the end of the season for a meal to thank coaches for their work. But this request was refused by the county management committee. 

Back in December, in a wide ranging interview with Alan Foley, Karl expressed his disappointment at the lack of close ties between the Academy and the role of the coaching officer. So, in January, Lacey was called to a meeting with members of the county executive and was asked to publicly apologise for his comments regarding the lack of those close ties. 

He refused to do so. It is difficult not to wonder if someone with the ability of Karl Lacey who was doing such an excellent job as Academy head was not marginalised to some extent. There is a perception that few, if any of the coaches who resigned in support of Karl, have any appetite to now return to their positions, and it would be difficult to blame them. 

Declan Bonner’s assertion that we must get Karl back by any means necessary, is something I would agree with. And if that means changes need to take place on the county executive then so be it. This issue is about what is best for Donegal football and should have nothing to do with egos.

Mayo challenge 

On Sunday, Donegal will host Mayo in MacCumhaill Park - a game that is crucial to Paddy Carr’s men’s chances of staying in the National Football League’s top division. I would urge every man, woman, and child to try to get to this game. 

Our first NFL win against Kerry now seems quite a while ago, but the wonderful home support on that occasion gave our team a brilliant lift and was a major factor in the team’s success. 

This week I have listened to some fans talk about Mayo coming to Donegal not needing the points because they have already consolidated their place in Division 1. Winning at the weekend could qualify Kevin McStay’s men for a league final place against their Connacht championship opposition Roscommon. 

Mayo might not want that so, those same people are also suggesting that Mayo may play a side short of several regulars. Those theories I consider to be quite ridiculous. Any player in a Mayo jersey on Sunday will be playing his heart out to impress because every footballer wants to play well to hold on to their position for the next game. 

To get to play Roscommon in a league final and win the league would be the ideal preparation for the championship. A competitive match is better than weeks of training and every manager knows that. 

To those who believe that Donegal have a battle on their hands to survive their league status, Ballybofey is a fortress and the grit and wonderful spirit that Ireland showed in Scotland last Saturday would go a long way to keeping the points at home. 

To those who doubt Donegal’s ability to stay in the top division I would say “never cast aspersions on the alligator’s mother, until you have crossed the river”.