Donegal GAA Masters get their season underway on Saturday

The Donegal Masters 2024 season gets up and running this Saturday when they entertain Tyrone in the opening fixture at the Coláiste Ailigh grounds in Letterkenny (2 pm).

It is the first of a six game series which will see Donegal also with a home game against Derry, away to Antrim, London, Sligo and Monaghan.

"It's a tight start," says Donegal Masters manager, Francie Martin, who has taken over the Bainisteoir role this year.

And while he is hoping to get a few more high profile players involved, he is happy with the turnout so far.

"It has been very good. We played Sligo in a challenge and we won and we had a couple of in-house matches with 34 at our last one at the weekend in Convoy.

"We are training every Wednesday night and it's going well. There is plenty of interest," said Martin, who said they are hoping to get some of the big ex-county men to join this year, like Neil Gallagher of Glenswilly and Rory Kavanagh of St Eunan's.

"Both had injuries and we are hopeful that they might still join us later."

Among the newcomers who have joined this year include Eamon Ward from Glenswilly; Nigel McMonagle, Moville and Damien Browne, Red Hughs.

There are plenty of experienced players still around including the ageless Charlie Doherty of Naomh Muire. 

Francie Martin is no stranger to Masters football as he played himself when the grade was introduced around the millennium and has All-Ireland medals with wins against Dublin.

“I remember Michael Kelly was in goals and he got injured and I had to go into goals for a couple of games,” said Martin.

After Donegal play their six group games, the competition will then be broken into different competitions, depending on where you finish in the table.

Donegal Masters panel for 2024

Newcomers for this year:

Aaron Thompson (Naomh Conaill);  Antoine O'Hara (Killybegs); Barry Nelis (Termon); Brian Doherty (Urris); Damien Browne (Red Hughs); Eamon Ward (Glenswilly); Gavin McGinley (Naomh Columba); Gavin McConnell (Buncrana); Joe O'Donnell (Termon); John Doherty (Buncrana); Kieran Duffy (Glenfin); Nigel McMonagle (Moville); Stephen Black (St Michael's); Steven Nairn (St Eunan's).

Rest of panel: Aiden Duddy (Naomh Utan); Andrew McMorrow (Killybegs); Benny Quinn (St Naul's); Brendan Boyle (Naomh Eoghan); Brian McLaughlin (St Michael's)' Cathal Gallagher (Rath Eanna); Charlie Creevy (Letterkenny Gaels); Charlie Doherty (Naomh  Muire); Ciaran Cunningham (Kilcar); Conor McShane (Four Masters); Diarmaid Slevin (Aodh Ruadh); Eamon McHugh (Killybegs); Enda Bonner (Four Masters); Eunan Keaveney (N Padraig, Uisce Chaoin); Gary Gillen (St Mary's, Convoy); Gerard McBrearty (Four Masters); Hugh Foy (Glenfin); Karl O'Brien (Aodh Ruadh); Laurence McMullan (St Mary's, Convoy); Mark Cannon (MacCumhaill's); Martin Donaghy (Burt); Michael Canning (N Padraig, Uisce Chaoin); Nicky McGarrigle (Letterkenny Gaels); Paddy Joe Doohan (Cloughaneely); Patrick Hannigan (MacCumhaill's); Paul Gallagher (Naomh  Muire); Paul McCrudden (Glenfin); Paul Patton (MacCumhaill's); Seamus Hegarty (Moville); Sean Maguire (Cloughaneely); Sean McDaid (Urris); Stephen Coyle (St Michael's); Stephen Doherty (Red Hughs); Toirealach McGinley (Letterkenny Gaels).