Donegal given a huge boost as the Mac is back
DONEGAL are expected to welcome Odhrán MacNiallais back into their team for tomorrow’s McKenna Cup clash against Monaghan in Clones.
The skilful Gaoth Dobhair man took a year out of the inter-county scene last year, spending time in New York, but he has made himself available to new manager Declan Bonner over the winter.
It had been thought that the 25-year-old would make his first start in the McKenna Cup opener against Queen’s University, but a chest infection curbed that plan.
It was Nathan Mullins, son of Dublin legend Brian, who caught the eye in the comfortable 15-point win over Queen’s, the St Vincent’s man even scoring a goal on his senior county debut. He was given a standing ovation in Ballybofey when substituted late in the game.
Mullins’ performance in curtailing James McCarthy’s influence in the Dublin SFC final last October marked him as someone with the potential to make an impact at county level. Mullins was born in Donegal and lived there for a number of years as his father was principal of the Carndonagh community school.
His display in stopping McCarthy in his tracks was one of the reasons why Mullins was named Dublin club Player of the Year. He previously played Under 21 for Donegal in 2011, ironically a year after he was part of the Dublin Under 21 team that beat Donegal in the 2010 All-Ireland final.
Hugh McFadden, who has been given the captaincy during the McKenna Cup, praised Mullins after the win.
He said: ‘I have been working and training with Nathan for the last few weeks and he is a massive addition to the Donegal squad. His professionalism, appetite for work and attitude really stand to him.’
McFadden partnered Mullins around the middle on Wednesday night but it is the prospect of MacNiallais and Mullins in midfield that will excite Donegal supporters and it is something that Bonner might test before the end of the McKenna Cup campaign.
Meanwhile, Down’s McKenna Cup game against University of Ulster Jordanstown has been moved to Burren tomorrow afternoon. The match had been scheduled for Downpatrick but throw-in time remains at 2pm. The Mourne side are looking for their first win in the competition, after losing to Armagh on Wednesday night.