Donegal hopefuls can sink teeth into McKenna Cup - Jim McGuinness

Jim McGuinness says his squad is really looking forward to Wednesday night’s competitive return to action as the Dr McKenna Cup gets under way. 

Donegal had a challenge match prior to Christmas where they ran out impressive 2-12 to 2-6 winners over Roscommon in Ballyshannon. But there is no doubt in the manager’s mind, the serious business starts now, in Ballybofey, against Armagh. 

“We're looking forward to the McKenna Cup to be honest.

“We have Armagh in the first game and Tyrone in the second and it doesn't get any better than that.

“Armagh were in the Ulster final last year and Tyrone won the All-Ireland a couple of years ago, so they have a great calibre of players, and it will be nice to rubbing shoulders with them.”

Donegal have some niggles to contend with but McGuinness expects most of those to clear up by the time Division 2 of the NFL commences. 

“There's a good few there with niggles right now. But it’s more of the senior players like Caolan McGonagle, Jason (McGee), Patrick (McBrearty) and Niall O'Donnell.

“There's a lot of them there and hopefully now over the next number of weeks they will get a wee bit of game time into their legs. It's a long season and you need your squad. 

“You definitely need it now more than ever. In my last tenure if you like, you could have played a game and picked up injuries and lads would be back for the next game.

“That's just not possible now. I think we are carrying maybe 33 now and we have seven or eight Under 20s who are going really well.

“It was very positive from that point of view as well. There are seven or eight of those lads that have been training with the seniors and trying to get up to that level.

“We will probably keep our own numbers and the lads will go with the twenties anyway. It's just nice that we have them now in this period when the Under 20s are just getting underway, so we can have a good look at them.

“When we are down numbers, they are always available to train with us.”

Donegal get their league season underway on Sunday, January 28 when Cork come to MacCumhaill Park. And from that moment on, and with the condensed season, the screw really begins to turn. 

“We know where we are at. We know where we want to get to. For everybody in that room, but everybody in Donegal, we have to get our heads down and work hard.

“Division 2 is going to be very tough and the championship draw is going to be extremely tough.

“We are not going to shirk it and we will try to meet it head on and give it our best shot and see where it takes us.

“That won't change no matter who comes out the other dressing room door.

“We just have to try and get ourselves right and impose ourselves on the game and build from there.”

In terms of injuries and personnel ahead of the league, McGuinness explained: “There are one or two, but they are coming back. Coalan McColgan, Conor O’Donnell are coming back. 

“They are the only two long-term ones and hopefully they are available in the National League for us. Other than that there’s nobody that we don’t expect to have in the next month”.

Following Wednesday night’s clash with Armagh, Donegal then go away to Mickey Harte’s Tyrone on Saturday. 

“We’re trying to come up with a plan for the players who have not seen a lot of game time. That will filter around both the McKenna Cup and some friendly matches as well. 

“We need to work hard with a couple of men and get as many men as possible in a position where they are ready for the first league game. 

“So we’ll use the McKenna Cup in the same way”.