McKenna Cup 2024

[From the Bunker]

10 years this year since Donegal made an All-Ireland semi final - would be very impressive if McGuinness can end that drought in his first year

It all depends of the draw. You meet Kerry or Dublin in a quarter and it's difficult. Meet any of the rest and you never know.

[Captain Obvious]

Derry will have to perform a lot better in the upcoming McKenna cup final than they did against a 2nd string Armagh if they are to topple Donegal.

Only concern I'd have if I was from Donegal is that they are going too good too soon. Yes the current form will bring league promotion but what will be left in the tank come June or July?

[AustinPowers]

I tell ya, Sam's  for the Hills

[tbrick18]

You don't become a bad team overnight. The wrong management team, opt outs and injuries affected Donegal greatly last year. They've lost Murphy but I'm pretty sure Gallen will be a capable replacement. They've Langan back as well. Donegal will be a serious outfit this year.

100% agree.
They'll be very well organised used, super fit and extremely focused.
If they keep injury free, they'll be very hard to beat.
I'm not sure how both teams will approach the final. Will they keep a few cards up their sleeves for the first round or will both want to go full tilt for the win and get the advantage for first round?
It has the potential of being a brilliant game at this time of year.
I would say that donegal look further along in their prep than us.
Losing the final will not really matter so long as its not a tanking,  but I don't see either team dishing out a hammering.

[JoG2]

Derry will have to perform a lot better in the upcoming McKenna cup final than they did against a 2nd string Armagh if they are to topple Donegal.

Only concern I'd have if I was from Donegal is that they are going too good too soon. Yes the current form will bring league promotion but what will be left in the tank come June or July?

Sky Sports live from Ulster....It's McKenna Cup / January.

[NotedObserver]

This is the McKenna cup lads

[tbrick18]

This is the McKenna cup lads

Yeah but with Derry v Donegal in the first round of the ulster championship the mckenna final has a bit more context than just being the mckenna cup.
I think both teams will go out to win it with as strong a side as they can put out.

From a Derry POV, I'd like to see us protecting some of our more established players for the league ahead. Rest them for the final and play the fringe players instead. A great opportunity to assess them against tougher competition. I'd hate to get an injury to Rogers/Mcguigan/Mckinless etc in a Mckenna cup game that potentially rules them out of league and championship, especially as we already are likely to be without the Glen men for a while at least.

[Wildweasel74]

Like the man said , it's the McKenna cup, zero reference from 3/4 months time.

[Blowitupref]

Final Live on TG4 YouTube at 5pm on Saturday

https://www.youtube.com/live/SM6BkyvIyzs?si=VNU6C5cdto_nTF7q

[square_ball]

A good find from Off The Ball

https://x.com/eoinsheahan/status/1747987143668994497?s=46

[Mario]

A strong Derry team named. Good to see McCluskey back before the Kerry game

[J70]

Reasonably strong Donegal team

[tbrick18]

I'm actually looking forward to this game. Two strong sides named for time of year.

Some interesting positional selections from Harte.

[marty34]

Is this game on tv anywhere?

[Blowitupref]

Is this game on tv anywhere?

Read back