Francie Martin to manage the Donegal GAA Masters team in 2024

Glenfin man Francie Martin will be the manager of the Donegal GAA Masters team for 2024.

Francie will be joined by Eddie Crawford of Glenswilly and they will be having their first meeting on Wednesday of next week.

Anyone interested in being involved with the Donegal Masters for 2024 are asked to assemble at the MacCumhaill’s Clubhouse at 7 pm on Wednesday next, February 21st where plans will be put in place for the year ahead.

Donegal have enjoyed success in the Masters competition in recent years winning both the Cup and Shield competitions but they lost out last year in the Shield semi-final, bowing out to London by 2-11 to 2-8 at the Errigal Ciaran Grounds in Tyrone.

But every year there is a fresh start and the possible inclusion of new playing personnel who reach the qualifying age.

The appointment of Francie Martin is a big boost to Donegal as the Glenfin man has a vast bag of experience at playing and managerial level. He is a former Donegal senior footballer and was also part of the Donegal Masters panel which won the All-Ireland title in 2002 and 2003, acting as goalkeeper understudy to Michael Kelly.

It was a bit of a turnaround for Martin to be playing in goal after most of his career was in the forward line for club and county.

“I was playing in goals for the Reserves at that time and also played in goals in Sevens competitions. St Eunan’s ran a Sevens competition every Easter,” says Francie, who said he was looking forward to the new role.

Martin has wide ranging managerial experience at club level, both with his home club and also with Glenswilly, Bundoran, Dungloe, Naomh Colmcille and Red Hugh’s.

On top of that Francie has been heavily involved in the management of ladies teams in his own club and at county underage level, U-16 and minor in recent years.

Indeed, since hanging up the boots on his playing career, there has rarely been any year where he has not been involved.

“I was with a lot  of clubs and then I was with the girls (county) at U-16 and minor. There were plenty of jobs going. There are still plenty of jobs going. I did a year with Red Hugh’s and I wanted to finish then because I felt I was getting too old for it.

“It does do you good to get out,” said Martin.

“I started with Glenswilly and I was there for five years and I came back to Glenfin for a couple of years. Then I went to Bundoran and Dungloe and I was in Newtowncunningham for a wee while too.”

Francie Martin in his playing days with Glenfin

Now he is looking to his new role and the initial task will be to form a training panel and especially to see what new young talent is available.

“I haven’t looked at much yet. Eddie Crawford is going along with me and he was saying that we might get a few boys like Neil Gallagher involved and it would raise the profile of the team,” said Martin, who felt that the likes of Colm McFadden and Christy Toye would be qualified now. “We will have to look at the likes of those boys, they would be a great addition.”

When put to him that Michael Murphy is not ready yet, he laughs: “It’s a pity.”

If you are in your 40th year you are qualified to play. “We are having a meeting of management on Wednesday night of this week and then we hope to get the players together for a meeting on Wednesday week, February 21st in the MacCumhaill Centre.”

“I am looking forward to it at this stage,” said Martin, who had a difficult year in 2023 with the death of his son, Gareth.

“It will be a good outlet for me, talking to people. But life goes on and you have to get out,” said Martin.

A number of the Donegal Masters players will be involved in March in the International Rules games against Australia. Conor McShane and Paul Gallagher are involved in the Ireland Mens Over 40s and Over 50s respectively while Mark Cannon is part of the management team. Cannon was the Donegal Masters manager for the last two seasons.

And there is also a Donegal connection with the Ladies Masters with Diane McGlynn named in the Irish squad.

Fixtures for the Donegal GAA Masters team will be available shortly but the most important item on the agenda of new manager, Francie Martin, is for all those interested to show up on Wednesday night next, February 21st, in MacCumhaill Centre at 7 p.m.