McShea's Say: Three months later and nothing but deafening silence

Silence is defined as the absence of noise. As the Donegal SFC reaches the knockout stages the absence of noise from those charged with putting a new inter county manager in place is simply deafening.

It is nearly three months since Donegal made their exit from the championship at the hands of Armagh and it is difficult to understand the approach of those charged with the implementation of  “the succession act” in replacing Declan Bonner.

The veil of secrecy surrounding the county executive's approach is difficult to comprehend. In Mayo when they quickly appointed their new management team, all 16 people who let their name go forward - four applicants for manager plus their back-up teams - were known to the media and the public and there was nothing to hide.

Indeed, Oisin McConville, the new Wicklow manager, was on the ticket of Ray Dempsey, one of the unsuccessful nominations for the Mayo post.

The decision in Donegal to keep the names of the three-man committee nominated to appoint the new manager under wraps is also one of our worst kept secrets and I believe that here in Donegal we had two men who were perfectly suited to serve on that committee. Jim Mc Guinness and Brian McEniff have delivered the goods for Donegal in a special manner. 

They not only played inter county football at the top level but both men managed Donegal footballers on the two greatest days in the history of Donegal football, when our only two All-Irelands were won.

I would have appointed Joe Brolly to complete that interview panel. Brolly has a genuine love of Gaelic football and like McGuinness and Mc Eniff he has a sharp football brain. I have no doubt that  had those men had been charged with getting a manager Donegal would by  now have got their man.

I believe that Oisin McConville would have responded very positively to an interview for the Donegal job - he has a deep knowledge of Ulster football, coupled with excellent communication skills and a warm personality suited to man-management. He would no doubt have found the Donegal position much more attractive than heading to a  Leinster county.

It is common knowledge in the football and hurling world that “incentives” are now an integral part of a managers makeup and it is not unreasonable to ask who has the authority to define such perks?

I find it difficult to see so many great club members both men and women strive week after week to sell the lotto to keep their clubs afloat and then hear of ridiculous figures being bandied about to allegedly keep the manager happy.

The positive news from the club championship is the continued good form of most of our county men. Michael Murphy was in great form for Glenswilly at the weekend playing at the edge of the square, Hugh Mc Fadden is playing out of his skin for Killybegs, Peadar Mogan continues his excellent form for his club just as he did in the championship for Donegal.

Ciaran Thompson with Naomh Conaill and Oisin Gallen now that he is injury free is showing his undoubted potential for MacCumhaill’s. Paddy McBrearty is also showing exceptional form in his Kilcar jersey while Jamie Brennan was back to his very best playing for Bundoran last Sunday.

This is a clear indication that whoever is appointed as Donegal manager, they have a strong deck to play with going forward. I have always maintained that here in Donegal we still have the nucleus of a very good team.

Yes, like every county we could get a boost from two or three players emerging from the club championship to fit the bill in a county squad, but so far this year there is no clear indication of significant emerging talent. There is still time for some new blood surface before the conclusion of the battle for the Dr Maguire Cup.