Donegal's Famous Five looking to banish the semi-final heartbreak of 2016

As they marched off the hallowed turf of Croke Park in August 2016 following their All-Ireland Minor Championship semi-final defeat to Galway, no doubt many of the Donegal players that day wondered when they would return to GAA HQ for a championship setting.  

For some, it was their final time ever to grace the field of Croke Park.   

Joint captains that day, Niall O’Donnell and Jason McGee would return three years later, each scoring a point in Donegal’s drawn Super 8s contest with Kerry in 2019.  

Until two weeks ago, that was the final time the county played in Croke Park in a championship game.   

Against Louth, Gavin Mulreany, Mark Curran, and Peadar Mogan returned to the 82,000-capacity stadium for their first championship game since that defeat to Galway in 2016. A long eight-year haul, but no doubt a win that was worth the wait.  

McGee, O’Donnell, Curran, Mogan, and Mulreany are the five men currently with Jim McGuinness’s senior side who started in the All-Ireland minor semi-final that day when Galway emerged victorious on a 2-12 to 1-11 scoreline.  

For those five players, up until this season, that summer in 2016 was perhaps their greatest achievement in a county setup, but now they hope to banish the demons of eight years ago this Sunday when they hope to get revenge on the Tribesmen that ended their impressive minor run that year.  

“There were five lads that were on that 2016 minor team that are with the Donegal seniors now, but there were a lot of other lads that I coached who are with Donegal too or used to be with the county team,” said Donegal U-20 manager Shaun Paul Barrett, who was the county minor manager that day in 2016.  

“I suppose reflecting on it, when I took over that minor team in 2016, you were taking over a group of players who never won anything but had great belief in themselves and were just looking for someone to lead them.  

“I think when you talk about the five men that are now with the senior team, Gavin Mulreany, Mark Curran, Peadar Mogan, Niall O’Donnell, and Jason McGee, what those lads had was a great attitude and a real work ethic, just like the rest of the players on that squad.”  

Looking back on that time, the Milford man reflects on the ‘Sliding doors moments’ when discussing players, he was certain would’ve made the jump easily to the inter-county senior scene, but due to different circumstances never did.  

“I think some players on that team were probably unfortunate not to be currently playing for Donegal due to injury or whatever, but they were a great group to manage,” he admitted.   

“I suppose I would’ve thought that those five lads from 2016, you would’ve had great belief back then that they could’ve gone on and played county senior. There were other lads I would’ve thought the same of but just for different reasons never did.  

“We had a player called Aidan McLaughlin who is now in England, but I remember he got an immediate call-up to the seniors straight after minors. Enda McCormack was the exact same, Shane McGrath was in with the training panel for a while, and Brian O’Donnell played for the team last season. So, you never know what life has in store.”  

Recounting that semi-final in 2016, it was the current Galway ace Robert Finnerty, and the then captain Desmond Conneely who both caught the eye with fine scoring displays as they hit 2-7 between them that day with Conneely claiming the Man of the Match award, while his 51st minute goal was the critical score in sealing his side’s win.  

“I know looking back on that Galway panel from 2016, Rob Finnerty played that day and he is now one of the top forwards for his county. John Maher was midfield too. Their most dangerous player was a guy called Evan Murphy, he was definitely their best player and he’s not with the Galway seniors for whatever reason,” Barrett recalls.  

“Galway played extremely well that day, but we stayed with them throughout. I think there are always small margins, but that day against Galway and it’ll be the same this weekend for the seniors, at this stage of the championship, you have to get everything right, and then at the same time, you need luck on your side too.  

“Like no doubt, this season, when Donegal were in Ulster, they were unreal in squeezing through tight games, but they also had that bit of luck too and I hope that will carry on for the rest of the season for them.”  

With the county hoping for the return of McGee for the semi-final, Curran staring as the tight corner-back throughout the Ulster campaign, O’Donnell receiving the Ulster final Man of the Match award, Mogan almost destined for an All-Star, and Mulreany appearing as the loyal deputy twice this season for the injured Shaun Patton, there was no questioning the work and commitment of these five players to the county cause.  

They were traits that Barrett saw from those players back then, and still sees now.  

“One thing I truly believe about the players that went on to represent Donegal at senior level, the one thing they all had in common was a brilliant attitude and a desire to work hard for the team. Every one of them had a real hunger,” Barrett points out.  

“I think in 2016 what it was all about from my point of view, I saw players that had a real will to win, they just needed that belief. Any team I’ve ever coached, I’ve always found it important that I believe in them and believe they are good enough if they put in the work and that’s what those lads did in 2016. 

“In the first round of the championship against Antrim, when we needed leaders to step up after we went a man down, Niall O’Donnell was sensational.  

“In the Ulster championship semi-final, we won by a point after extra-time, I remember Jason McGee being absolutely phenomenal that day too. So, these were players that just refused to give in and would do everything to help their team.  

“I think this season, they have Jim back and he absolutely believes in what they’re doing and that’s why they’re successful again.”  

That semi-final defeat in 2016 may have been one of the worst feelings on a football field for those five players, but they know what goes around comes around as they plan their revenge for Galway this Sunday.  

It’s been a long eight years in the wilderness!