New-look Fr Tierney Park to host first Donegal game under Jim McGuinness on his return

All the ingredients are in place for a special game on Sunday next when Jim McGuinness’s Donegal take on Roscommon on the newly-refurbished Fr Tierney Park in Ballyshannon (1.30 pm).

The game marks the first competitive encounter in what is being termed the McGuinness era, part two. The Glenties native has taken on the prestigious but also very onerous position of Donegal senior team manager for the second time.

Not unlike the first coming, he has taken over when Donegal are at a low ebb and getting the county back into the top half dozen will be a difficult task.

Donegal will be competing in Division 2 of the Allianz National Football League and have four home games, which should be helpful. But to be sure of competing in the final stages of the All-Ireland championship they will have to reach the Ulster final or finish close to the top of Division 2 in the league.  Winning or finishing second in Division 2 and securing promotion will surely be the first aim as that would secure them that vital place in the last 16 of the All-Ireland Championship.

But before that the task Jim McGuinness faces is building a squad that can compete at the highest level. The split season with the All-Ireland final now being played in July will be much different to the way things were when Jim finished up in 2014. There is little breathing room now from the last Sunday in January (when the league begins) to the end of June (when the championship race will be down to four).

By the time you are reading this Donegal will also know their opponents in the Dr McKenna Cup (drawn on Wednesday night) and that will also provide the new boss with more pointers to the health of his squad.

That squad will still be built around most of the players that made the last 12 in 2023 before succumbing to Tyrone in MacCumhaill Park in the preliminary quarter-final (1-18 to 0-13) at the end of June.

It was a tame end to what was a very difficult season with new manager Paddy Carr forced to walk away before the final league game against Roscommon. Aidan O’Rourke and Paddy Bradley took over but morale was never at a level to be able to compete at the very top.

Jim McGuinness’s return has lifted morale and preparations are miles ahead of where Donegal were at prior to 2023.

Although we are not privy to what the make-up of the squad is at present, it is believed that somewhere around 35 players made the trip to Tenerife for a warm-weather training camp last week, so they should be well on target to be one of the fittest set of players in the county come the new season in 2024.

There will be a return to action of some familiar faces - the likes of Ryan McHugh and the O’Donnell brothers from St Eunan’s, Niall and Shane. Aaron Doherty of Naomh Columba is another welcome return.

It is gathered that there are a number of new faces also, some young like Karl Joseph Molloy, Finbarr Roarty, Ciaran Moore and Seanán Carr while there are some seasoned players stepping up from the club championship such as Kevin McGettigan, Charles McGuinness and Ultan Doherty of Naomh Conaill and Ronan Frain of Letterkenny Gaels.

The team will still need the strong base that has been established in recent years - the likes of All-Star nominees from this year Brendan McCole and Oisin Gallen; Patrick McBrearty, Eoghan Bán Gallagher, Peadar Mogan, Dáire Ó Baoill, Caolan Ward, Stephen McMenamin, Hugh McFadden, Conor O’Donnell, Ciaran Thompson, Jason McGee, Odhrán Doherty, Jamie Brennan and Michael Langan. Gavin Mulreany had a good year between the posts for St Naul’s and provides good competition for Shaun Patton of St Eunan’s.

The return to full fitness of Michael Langan will be welcomed by Donegal supporters. It will be a big season also for the returning Aaron Doherty, who was on the Donegal team that last played in an Ulster final in 2022 while other young players like John Ross Molloy and Mark Curran will be hoping to continue their progress from last year.

No doubt, McGuinness will be looking to other players to step up and put pressure on the players  in possession.

Sunday’s game is expected to bring good numbers out to support and there is a charity connection with North West Hospice as partners in the game.

St Columba's, Glenties lose out in Arthurs Cup final to late Bailieborough goals

Donegal side led for three quarters of the game but were unable to recover from late goals from the Cavan college

NEW-LOOK FR TIERNEY PARK

The game will  mark the first senior intercounty game on the Fr Tierney Park since major re-surfacing and refurbishment works have been undertaken on the main terrace.

The playing surface has been completely re-laid by Prunty Contractors and the initial reaction of those who have played on it are extremely positive.

The  playing area is 147m by 84m as contained in the new book by former Dublin hurling manager, Humphrey Kelleher. The aerial photo at the top of the page was taken by Kelleher during the summer, just before the goalposts were replaced.

According to the book the capacity for the ground at present is 5,600. It will host the National League game against Louth in early March and it is likely that the official opening of the refurbished ground will be marked on that occasion.