McShea’s Say: Are Donegal on the road towards regeneration? 

For over ten years we have seen every stage of the Donegal football team’s mortality, peak, decline and now hopefully regeneration. 

Playing Monaghan on Saturday evening will go a long way to answering that question. Donegal do not have a great record against the Farney County. 

It could be fair to suggest that the green and gold jersey seems to bring the best out of Monaghan teams. To beat Monaghan Donegal need to exceed the level they reached against Derry in Ballybofey two weeks ago. 

In Vinney Corey, Monaghan have a manager who in his playing days was like an old oak tree sturdy and unshakeable at centre half back. He has impressed in his first year at the helm of Monaghan football, and retaining their Division 1 status was no mean achievement in a cut throat division. 

Corey took the brave decision to drop Conor McManus, arguably Monaghan’s best player ever, recently. To put this decision in perspective this would have been like dropping Michael Murphy from the Donegal team when he was commander in chief of the side. 

Without McManus, Monaghan still prevailed, a result which would have enhanced Corey’s reputation as the new boss. A feature of this match will be watching two of the best tactical kickers in the modern game in Shaun Patton and Monaghan’s Rory Beggan. 

Both players have the ability to leave their mark on this game and Beggan’s desire to play close to the opposition goal could be exploited by quick thinking, intelligent football from Donegal. 

Against Derry, Donegal played better than at any time this season. But there are still several issues that would have required forensic attention on the training ground in the last ten days. 

Derry did create a number of goal scoring chances, which they did not convert. This was a result of Donegal being vulnerable when Derry ran at us. Monaghan also have a very mobile attacking half back line and if given the space that Derry enjoyed, they too will do damage. 

In midfield, Monaghan do not have players of the ability or mobility of the Derry pair Conor Glass and Brendan Rogers and Donegal, if Jason McGee is match fit, could get a vital toe hold in this area. 

But it is up front that real improvement is required if Donegal are to win and get a home draw in the next round of the championship. Oisin Gallen almost single handedly did all the heavy lifting in attack against Derry. 

He was simply superb and if Donegal are to win in Omagh Gallen will need much more support from his fellow attackers. If Paddy McBrearty has regained match fitness that will be a boost to our team’s prospects. 

A win on Saturday would add another dimension to Donegal’s self-esteem, and while it will be difficult to achieve, a better all-round attacking display and much more vigilance in defence could set up another championship game for Ballybofey. That is a significant incentive.

Positive review

While many aspects of the independent review of Donegal’s GAA practices were less than positive, much in the report was excellent and all Donegal fans will hope that the recommendations are implemented as soon as possible. 

Karl Lacey got what he deserved in the report, which said and I quote, ”Lacey’s stewardship had represented a very good structure, was well organised, had a sound player philosophy, with good planning principles in place”. 

When Karl resigned all 30 coaches that were there left also. None of them have gone back. Croke Park recommends an interim sub-committee to lead the Academy and an interim governance and finance group to be set up. 

The feeling among Donegal’s loyal supporters is that Lacey will only return if a number of the executive officers are no longer in position. The priority for Donegal football is to leave no stone unturned in getting Lacey back in place, whatever that entails. 

The glowing report and confirmation of Lacey’s ability from an independent committee  confirms the view that this was an own goal by those responsible for a situation that should never have taken place. Now is the time to right that wrong.