Liam McKinney content with Donegal efforts in comfortable win over Wicklow

It’s not so long ago that a Donegal hurling team minus Danny Cullen, Declan Coulter, Ronan McDermott, Bernard Lafferty, Christopher McDermott, Richie Ryan and Padraig Doherty would have been viewed as perhaps a tad lightweight.

But there has been a big change in the past few years with the emergence of strong, skilful confident players like Liam McKinney, new team captain Conor Gartland, new vice-captain Steven McBride, Josh McGee Cronolly, Oisin Marley and Sean Ward.

This new wave is driving Donegal hurling, and the flying McKinney is at its centre. Still only 20, he is one of the main men and hit an impressive 0-5 in Sunday’s huge 2-23 to 0-13 win over Wicklow. 

Speaking after the pretty easy victory, McKinney said: “We knew there was a bit of turmoil in the Wicklow team, but they still had about half a team from last year when you looked at their team sheet.

“In the first-half we played against the breeze, but we had a pretty good platform as we led at the break on a score of 1-10 to 0-6 at the break.

“We got a goal too, which was vital and then they lost a man which was a bit of a turning point in the game as it meant that we had more space and take scores and we cruised through the game then in the second-half.

“We were missing quite a lot of experienced players, and it is a different team from last year and there are a lot of young lads on the team and the captain and vice-captain are just 20 and 22 so that is a very definite statement.

“There is new leadership coming from the youth and a lot of younger lads are coming to the fore.”

McKinney reserved special praise for Steven McBride who is just back from injury and had a very solid game on the edge of the square.

“Steven has had a great year with Donegal and Setanta and he adds quite a bit to the team. I am enjoying the hurling this year, but our big goal is to win the Nickey Rackard Cup.

“That was the goal we set in December as we got the last year’s final and lost so we want to go one better this year and go all the way.

“The main thing in the league is to finish in the top three and make the semi-final and hopefully have a chance of winning the final but Derry will be a big test.”

Donegal take on the Oak Leafers next week in O’Donnell Park, which will be a crunch affair.

“They are the team to look out for and we will need to be really up for it.”