Caolan McColgan relishing All-Ireland Series tilt with Donegal 

Caolan McColgan is itching to make up for lost time as Donegal prepare for Sunday’s All-Ireland quarter-final clash with Louth at Croke Park. 

The Naomh Padraig, Uiece Chaoin flier missed a large chunk of the early stages of Jim McGuinness’ return after picking up a nasty hamstring injury, on club duty, that was so severe it needed surgery. 

There was a minor set-back recently when he nipped the opposite hamstring but, thankfully, all that injury needed was a little time to heel. 

“I tore my hamstring in the club championship last year and got surgery on it, then pulled the other hamstring in the Ulster Final,” says McColgan.

“Thankfully this one isn't as bad as the other one, there's no damage to the tendon. I'd hope to be back for the quarter-final all going well.”

McColgan admits that the side’s homecoming, into Donegal Town after their Ulster final win over Armagh, was a sight to behold. 

He stood in the same crowd, as a young boy, 12 years ago when Jim McGuinness led Donegal to All-Ireland glory with victory over Mayo.

“It was a great buzz, it was nearly surreal,” he said. “I was hiding in the back, I wasn't even looking out too much. It's great to see the fans out supporting Donegal in those numbers.

“You dream of winning Ulster titles and to actually do it was incredible.

“I was there in 2012 when it was pissing rain and I was soaked but I still loved it looking up at them boys and now that I'm playing with a few of them it's great.

“Since I was a young lad all I wanted to do was to play for Donegal. Nothing else.”

Having had to bide his time at the outset of the season, McColgan admits he soaked as much information up as possible as McGuinness and his backroom team of Colm McFadden and Neil McGee got to work. 

Pressed on what makes McGuinness such a potent presence, McColgan explained: “I think it's just a bit of everything.

“He always has his homework done and has a great knowledge of the game and he's great at passing it on to us.

“He's just been great since he came in and hopefully now we can push on.

“We know we have great footballers in Donegal it's just about getting the game-plan right and going out there and showing what we can do.”

McColgan - who has also impressed for Cockhill Celtic on the soccer fields - says he’s had a number of role models growing up but there are two in particular that he’s looked to model his own approach on. 

“Karl Lacey, I nearly based my own game off his as much as I could. And then when I got older and played with Ryan McHugh I try to base it off him too. It's good to be playing with him now and learning from him.

“He's a great player, we all know that. He's phenomenal on and off the ball. He's great to watch and great to play with. He always gives good advice and it's great to have that influence.

“Sometimes I play as a forward with the club so I'm comfortable getting forward, but my favourite thing is man-marking. I just love the challenge of going one v one against another player.”