Michael Hegarty is back so might play Donegal SFC for 27th year in a row

Michael Hegarty lined out for Kilcar in their All-County League Division 1B win over Killybegs last evening in Towney so don’t bet against him playing senior championship for a remarkable 27th successive year in the coming weeks.

Kilcar ran out winners on a 2-13 to 0-8 scoreline in the reserve fixture, with the experience of Patrick Gallagher and Conor McShane also called upon. 

Afterwards, Kilcar also impressed in the senior fixture, overcoming their neighbours from Fintra on a 3-17 to 1-7 scoreline to move them top of the Division 1 standings for now, with second to meet third this evening in Glenties as Naomh Conaill play St Eunan’s.

Either way, a win in Glenfin next week will confirm Kilcar as Division 1 finalists in manager Conor Cunningham’s first term in charge. Kilcar open their Donegal SFC campaign with a home fixture against Milford next month.

Former Donegal captain Hegarty, now 43, made his senior championship debut for Kilcar as a 17-year-old on September 22, 1996, coming on as a late substitute for Michael McShane in Donegal Town, also against Killybegs. Full-back McShane, a year younger, but who started out as a goalkeeper around 1999, is also still going strong.

“You saw him [Hegarty] out there yourself and he put two hands along with Conor McShane and Patrick Gallagher, three men who have given great service to the club,” Cunningham said afterwards. “They can always offer you something going forward, and they would strengthen the squad even further”.