McGuinness rules out any late additions to Donegal managerial backroom team 

Donegal senior football team manager Jim McGuinness will not be making any further additions to his backroom team ahead of the 2024 campaign. 

McGuinness’ confirmation ends fresh speculation that Karl Lacey might have come on board following Kilcoo’s elimination from the Ulster club championship by Scotstown.   

But the Naomh Conaill clubman explains that he is still very much on the lookout for players with possible senior intercounty credentials. 

McGuinness was speaking to Donegal Live at a Gala Ball to mark 50 years for Ulster University Jordanstown in the Great Northern Hotel Bundoran. 

The 2012 All-Ireland winning boss was presented with an award for captaining UUJ to Sigerson success in 2001 at the black-tie function attended by 450 patrons. 

Recalling his days at Jordanstown, McGuinness said: “I had been in Tralee IT for a few years and when the opportunity came to go to Jordanstown I took it. 

“Johnny McCafferty and Eamon Reddan from Donegal were in the squad that year and it was a tough team to make as there were a lot of quality players around. Some of them went on to win All-Ireland titles afterwards. 

“I had captained Tralee previously, and we beat UCD in the final in Scotstown. They were great days in Jordanstown and it was a great place to make new friends as Gaelic football is a great bond. 

“Looking around tonight it is wonderful to see so many coming out for a function like this”. 

When asked if there was a possibility that his 2012 Footballer of the Year Lacey could be a late addition to his backroom ticket, McGuinness explained: “No, we have our backroom team complete and we are starting to get ready. 

“But the full panel has not been finalised as we are still trialing, we have looked at a lot of players. 

“We have already looked at close to 50 in total so we have done a really good trawl of the county with every division in Donegal taken in. 

“That is very important too and some of them have showed up well so we will see how they go in the next few weeks.” 

Pressed on what he feels are the main differences in the game from the time he was last involved, he explained: “By the end of next year I will have a better handle on it but, obviously, the game has changed a lot. 

“It has moved to a possession-based game in many respects so we will have to deal with that.”