McKenna Cup 2024

[J70]

Donegal squad


Donegal have followed through with their plan to field a under-21 squad in their McKenna Cup campaign which starts against Ulster University on Sunday.

Killybegs' Eoghan Ban Gallagher and Gweedore duo Stephen McBrearty and Michael Carroll are the only members of the squad with senior experience.

Under-21 boss Declan Bonner will be in charge of the team in the competition.

The Ulster University squad includes the McHugh cousins Ryan and Eoin plus another Kilcar man Patrick McBrearty.

A number of other Donegal players including Martin O'Reilly of Queens, will play for third-level teams in the January season-opening competitions which also include the O'Byrne Cup in Leinster and the Connacht League.

The Donegal McKenna Cup panel includes Inishowen-based players Tony McClenaghan, Dylan Doherty, Ciaran Diver (all Moville), Danny Monagle (Carndonagh) and John Campbell (Buncrana).

Last month, Tyrone manager Mickey Harte said that he was "sceptical" following reports that Donegal would use an under-21 squad in the McKenna Cup.

However, Donegal manager Rory Gallagher is said to have taken decision in order to give his experienced players an extra break prior to the start of the Football League in early February.

Holders Tyrone open their McKenna Cup defence against Cavan at Breffni Park on Sunday.

Antrim's Section B opener against St Mary's has been switched from Corrigan Park to Glenavy.

Donegal McKenna Cup panel: Danny Rodgers (Dungloe), Daire O'Baoill (Gweedore), Tony McClenaghan (Moville), Niall Friel (Gweedore), Stephen McMenamin (Ballyshannon), Ciaran Gibbons (Glenswilly), Colm Kelly (Ballyshannon), Michael Lynch (Newtowncunningham), Conor Morrison (St Eunan's), Danny Monagle (Carndonagh), Andrew McClean (Kilcar), Eoghan Ban Gallagher (Killybegs), Stephen McBrearty (Kilcar), Jamie Brennan (Bundoran), Michael Carroll (Gweedore), Dylan Doherty (Moville), Christian Bonner (Na Rossa), Daniel Clarke (Newtowncunningham), Niall O'Donnell (St Eunan's), Naoise O Baoill (Gweedore), Michael Langan (St Michael's), Ciaran Diver (Moville), Jason McGee (Cloughaneely), Brendan McCole (St Naul's), John Campbell (Buncrana), Ethan O'Donnell (Naomh Conaill).

http://bbc.in/2j4F3WH

Stephen McBrearty is a Kilcar man, brother of Patrick.

Not that he'd be in for this competition, but Leo McLoone has apparently opted out for the year.

He'll be a big miss with his physique, work rate, ball winning and score taking abilities, but then Rory Gallagher, for some reason, was refusing to field him for most of the Ulster championship last year, instead opting to send players like Anthony Thompson back on after they'd been substituted.

Hopefully a good few of these U-21s are used in the league too.

[Cunny Funt]

Donegals U21s are already playing the North west cup three games v Sligo,Mayo and Derry and they are sure to have plenty of players playing in the college competitions starting soon. Where is the sense in flogging your U21s?

[Fuzzman]

TYRONE McKENNA CUP PANEL from the Irish News.
N Morgan (Edendork), M O'Neill (Clonoe), A McCrory (Errigal Ciarán), L Brennan (Trillick), C Clarke (Omagh), T McCann (Killyclogher), P Harte (Errigal Ciarán), R O'Neill (Omagh), N Sludden (Dromore), P McNulty (Dungannon), P Hampsey (Coalisland), D McCurry (Edendork), S Cavanagh (Moy), H Loughran (Moy), J Munroe (Carrickmore), C McAliskey (Clonoe), M Donnelly (Trilllick), C Cavanagh (Moy), C McCarron (Dromore), M Cassidy (Ardboe), D McClure (Clonoe), C McCullagh (Greencastle), R McHugh (Aghyaran), N McKenna (Donaghmore), R McNabb (Dromore), R Mullan (Cookstown).

Names of note missing : Rory Brennan, McNamee, Mark Bradley, Meyler, Richie Donnelly and McShane

[DennistheMenace]

Surprised to see Sean Cavanagh, no need really involving him at this stage is there?

[jp2020]

Surprised to see Sean Cavanagh, no need really involving him at this stage is there?

Why would you be surprised? MH goes to win it every year! Sure only for the McKenna Cup he'd have been packed off years ago

[Redhand Santa]

Surprised to see Sean Cavanagh, no need really involving him at this stage is there?

Why would you be surprised? MH goes to win it every year! Sure only for the McKenna Cup he'd have been packed off years ago

Aye sure better to try to not win it, its worked out far better for the other ulster counties over the last 15 years. In reality it'll have little impact later in the year but might as well try to win it when your taking part. Sean Cavanagh's game relies on fitness so maybe he's happy to be getting game time early in the year. I'm sure he'd be training anyway.

[Fuzzman]

Surprised to see Sean Cavanagh, no need really involving him at this stage is there?

Why would you be surprised? MH goes to win it every year! Sure only for the McKenna Cup he'd have been packed off years ago

Southtyronegael will be glad to hear this and will be cheering on Cavan this year with their new Tyrone manager to knock Tyrone out. Mickey might go on to manage Mayo to the AI next year then.

[J70]

Donegals U21s are already playing the North west cup three games v Sligo,Mayo and Derry and they are sure to have plenty of players playing in the college competitions starting soon. Where is the sense in flogging your U21s?

Given that the U-21 season is shorter and will be over in the spring, and many of these players are going to be expected to make the step up to senior this year and next, and given that many of Donegal's established players have a lot of miles on the clock with no opportunity for coasting in Ulster in the summer, it absolutely makes sense to give them the experience.

[Fuzzman]

I see Kerry are also going to field their U21 team this weekend v Tipperary.

I suppose it gives the U21 games before their championship and like you said Donegal have a lot of older players with miles on the clock. They might not start the league as well as other teams but they should still have enough to remain in Div 1. Have Donegal any new lads coming through this year that they will be hoping to make a big impact?

[Captain Obvious]

I think it's a bit silly to throw U21 teams into senior competitions. Both Donegal and Kerry would have high hopes of winning U21 provincial titles this spring and challenge for the All Ireland however a few bad beatings this January could ruin the mindset of those teams going into the U21 championship.

[southtyronegael]

i like the sound of the whole harte/mayo thing. maybe if it happens we might actually beat mayo in championship next year.lol. so tyrone have basically named their championship panel for mc kenna cup bar a few players. but be under no illusion guys, the mc kenna cup smokescreen will not work this year. 2017 is the year of judgement.

[jp2020]

i like the sound of the whole harte/mayo thing. maybe if it happens we might actually beat mayo in championship next year.lol. so tyrone have basically named their championship panel for mc kenna cup bar a few players. but be under no illusion guys, the mc kenna cup smokescreen will not work this year. 2017 is the year of judgement.

Losing the ofiach cup has obviously hurt MH, going all out for Mckenna Cup AGAIN FFS! A few counties have fielded primarily u21 teams in the past eg Monaghan and Donegal and it hasnt done them any harm! Agreed 2017 is big year,we cant be rebuilding for 10yrs!!!!

[ONeill]

Jaysus I hate Cavan.

[JoG2]

UUJ squad, some big hitters in there

Ulster University: Ricky Johnston, Niall McKeever (Antrim); Cathal Boylan, Tiarnan McConville, Jack Rafferty (Armagh); Michael McEvoy, Terrence O'Brien, Gareth McKinless, James Kearney, Barry Grant, Shane McGahon (Derry); Ryan McHugh, Eoin McHugh, Patrick McBrearty, Lorcan Connor, John Fitzgerald (Donegal); Damien McKeown, Niall Madine, Sean McGonigle, Kory Colgan (Down); Jack McCann (Fermanagh); Ryan McAnespie (Monaghan); Sean Fox, Ruairi Kelly, Ronan McNamee, Rory Brennan, Ruairi McGlone, Mark Bradley, Daire Gallagher, Frank Burns, Matthew Walsh, Ronan McGeary, Cillian McCann (Tyrone).

[BennyCake]

Jaysus I hate Cavan.

Is that you, McGleenan?