Donegal manager McCann: ‘You just can’t walk on to a team anymore’

It may not have been ideal preparation for much tougher days ahead, but Donegal team boss Mickey McCann was pleased with the way his team went about the business of dismantling Monaghan. 

Following the 3-31 to 0-8 win in the Conor McGurk Cup quarter-final, McCann sent out a clear message that places on the team are decided on merit as a host of younger players have emerged and are keen to be starting. 

He must have been especially pleased at the way his fellow Burt men Liam McKinney, who scored four frees, and Conor Gartland performed in an impressive team display. 

“The result was not all that important but the more games you get in this competition the better,” he said. “So we really wanted to win and it is about getting those young boys up to the level of work that is required.

“We know we will have much tougher tests down the line, but Conor Gartland really stepped up in the middle of the park, boys that you might be worried about physically, but they all stepped up and that was great to see”. 

Liam McKinney was entrusted with hitting most of the frees, with Richie Ryan chipping in with 1-10 in all.

“Liam is a very good free-taker and one of the most important things about a free-taker is that he practices and Liam does loads of this and is very committed and does it on his own,” McCann said. “We have other very good free-takers in Richie Ryan, Declan Coulter - who did not start today - and Daire O’Maoileidigh. 

“We felt we could give Liam a call today and he missed no frees in the county final and a lot of them were under pressure which is a good sign of a free- taker and we are spoiled for choice”. 

Donegal blow away Monaghan in style in Conor McGurk Cup opener

Mickey McCann's Donegal side got their new year off to a flying start with a 32-point win over Monaghan in the Conor McGurk Cup in Convoy

With Danny Culen on holiday, McCann was asked about other absentees he said that the county wants players who want to play.

“You have got to put the hard yards in in the winter months and get yourself up to a good level of fitness otherwise you will get caught out in March and April," he said.