McShea's Say: Donegal have some loose ends to tie up ahead of 2027

What I do enjoy about that change of pace is the chance to enjoy the club action outside the county, into the province and even beyond.

I love the Ulster Club championship. And while Donegal’s record hasn’t been great over the years, I still look forward to seeing how our champions will fare.

The gap between St Joseph’s triumph in 1975 and Gaoth Dobhair’s win in 2018 was a huge one but I don’t think we’ll be waiting as long going forward.

Scotstown are the reigning champions but a vibrant and athletic St Eunan’s shouldn’t be feeling inferior heading into this season’s competition.

Even though they are deserving Donegal champions, I do believe there is another gear or two in them.

Crucial to their chances is the availability of Niall O’Donnell. O’Donnell showed his class in the final and his early introduction really has given the Letterkenny side a real buzz.

But Niall has been commuting to and from the States, where he now works and I believe he is back in Chicago right now. It’s not an ideal scenario but one they will have to deal with again the weekend after next.

Fermanagh champions Erne Gaels, at Brewster Park, aren’t going to roll over for Kieran Donnelly’s men.

And the funny thing is, in the lead-up to November 7, is that both managers will know as much about their opponents as they do their own teams.

Donnelly is, of course, a Fermanagh native, while Gaels boss Barry O’Hagan, an All-Ireland winner with Armagh, is a former Naomh Colmcille player here in Donegal.

Gaels have won the last three Fermanagh SFC titles now and Declan Bonner was, of course, in charge for the first two of those.

I wouldn’t disrespect Gaels and label them a banana skin. But St Eunan’s will have to be on high alert. And if they avoid complacency, they will advance to the last four.

Housekeeping

As I alluded to, there are some things to get tidied up for Donegal GAA as intercounty sides get set to return to training next month.

They’ll be working away on their own and in the gym prior to that and it’s going to be interesting to see what additions are made, if any to the Donegal backroom team prior to then.

Also, the sooner we learn of Michael Murphy’s intentions for 2027, the better. I see no reason why Michael won’t stay on.

He might have turned 37 but he was again the best forward in the club championships. Finnbarr Roarty’s departure is a blow and one that any team will feel.

And while I think the GAA need to be proactive on that AFL drain, and I spoke on that last week; with a cooling-off period since, it’s hard to deny that it’s a brilliant opportunity for the young Glenties man.

It’s professional sport and Roarty is going to get paid for his talents. I know that, looking at the rookie contracts on offer, they seem modest. But a quick Google and you’ll soon see how that can swell if a player climbs the ladder.

I have no doubt that Finnbarr will climb that ladder very quickly.

Difficult

One thing that has become much more difficult for players is making an instant transition to senior intercounty football.

Bar a few exceptions like Finnbarr, Michael in the past and Paddy McBrearty, plucking someone from a club championship and expecting them to hit the ground running at that level is a serious ask.

So it’s going to be interesting to see how Jim freshens things up. There are lads that might have stepped away in the last few years, established players, that he goes knocking on their doors once more.

Some very familiar faces, the likes of Niall O’Donnell and Aron Doherty in Glen for example, are still a step or three ahead of the emerging talent.

But that has to be a decision for the players. And it’s a hard one to make as amateur players have so much else going on in their lives. It’s a massive commitment and a manager simply cannot give guarantees to any player.

But McGuinness, I’m sure, will leave no stone unturned as he looks to assemble the best squad available for next term.

And I have no doubt there will be minutes and gametime in the NFL as he will probably look to keep some of his heavy hitters under wraps in the early part of the season.

If that comes at the expense of league points and results, I doubt Jim will care that much. And as a supporter, there is real enjoyment in going and seeing younger and fresh faces being given the opportunity, in both the McKenna Cup and in Division 1.