Finnbarr Roarty learning on his feet at this level - Brendan McCole

Brendan McCole says Finnbarr Roarty is making up for lost time in a Donegal jersey after 2024’s false start. 

The Naomh Conaill teenager was elevated to the senior ranks last term by Jim McGuinness when he first came back in the door as senior football team boss. 

But, as it transpired, the player was in fact deemed underage and ineligible to play senior inter-county football and a McKenna Cup appearance that January was as good as it got for Roarty last year. 

Still, it didn’t flinch the 19-year-old. It certainly raised his profile and with extra eyes firmly trained on him in the Donegal Club SFC, others suddenly realised just what all the hype was about.

Lachlan Murray looked to be direct early on at the weekend and found fruit in that approach in what was Roarty’s championship bow. 

But the Glenties native didn’t fold under that initial duress and soon sussed Derry’s main ball-winning threat out by marking from the front and a little to the inside. 

For someone so young and inexperienced to process that, in front of a packed Ulster SFC house, was really impressive. 

McCole - at the centre of the Donegal defence - held Shane McGuigan scoreless from play and knows a thing or two about shutting down the best attackers in the game. 

But the Mountcharles man, with a shake of the head, says it’s very unique and rare for a teenager to come in at this level and instantly display that type of maturity. 

“He’s a freak and I mean that in the best possible way,” McCole told DonegalLive. “Physically and mentally, this is such a step up. But he’s making that transition in a really impressive way. 

“Really, when you think about it, he’s learning on his feet. But it’s been brilliant to watch that and even playing beside him, he is such a dog there and he absolutely empties himself into the task at hand. 

“And he’s a good lad too - he’s always positive and he brings that in the door every single night and that rubs off.

“And it’s very early days for Finnbarr. There is serious scope there for even more learning and more improvement. And that’s the exciting thing for him”. 

Donegal seen off the Oak Leafers 1-25 to 1-15 at the weekend in a preliminary round opener where McGuinness’ side ticked plenty of boxes. 

The likes of Patrick McBrearty and Michael Murphy came through unscathed while Jason McGee also finally made his first appearance of 2025. 

Roarty did go off with a knock while Odhran McFadden Ferry’s day was also ended prematurely by injury. But none of those are believed to be serious or long-term. 

Still, as McCole explains, some of the team’s shortcomings, on the day, will be examined more closely now in the lead-up to Monaghan, in Clones, in a fortnight’s time. 

Donegal were carved open at times in the first-half as Derry got in for a goal, won a penalty and also took points from tempting vantage points on two other occasions. 

And a stirring Farney side, playing with a carefree and adventurous attitude, presents a real challenge for McGuinness and Donegal. 

“It’s the Ulster championship and a home win over Derry, you can’t really ask for much more,” McCole explained. “It was a good result and a good enough performance as well”.

Shaun Patton’s penalty save, as early as it was, did kill some of the momentum Derry had built up and McCole says the Donegal custodian was excellent at the weekend. 

“Shaun offers us so much, he pulled us out of it that time and you always have faith in him stopping those types of kicks because he’s that good. But listen, Derry were always going to be a dangerous animal coming to Ballybofey. 

“They had nothing to lose and that made them a very dangerous proposition. Because they still have serious quality in all lines. 

“They were looking to do to us what we maybe did to them last season at Celtic Park, but thankfully we withstood it. 

“When we really get into it in the middle of the week, there will no doubt be plenty to work on. But right now we’re just happy to be through to the next round. 

“We have a great squad right now - there is serious competition. The plus today is that the likes of Michael Murphy, Patrick McBrearty and even Jason McGee near the end all got minutes.  

And in Jason’s case especially, it was great to see him back on the pitch”. 

McCole has obviously kept a close eye on Monaghan so far this term and he has been impressed with how they’ve gone about their business winning promotion back to the NFL top-tier as Division 2 champions. 

“Monaghan are energetic, young and full of confidence after that big Division 2 final win at Croke Park. They are playing great football too. There is real energy and they’re being brave with all of that. 

“And they have some fantastic footballers like Micheal Bannigan, David Garland and Jack McCarron - dangerous forwards that will hurt you - put you away in the first ten minutes if you give them even an inch of space. 

“We have a big two weeks in preparation for that. Every single moment counts now in the lead-in to that”.