Carroll latest to depart Donegal football squad

MICHAEL Carroll has become the latest player to leave the Donegal football squad in recent weeks.

Carroll, who featured regularly during last year’s league and started the first three championship games, has been used sparingly so far this year. His departure brings to three the number of players who have cut short their time with the squad in 2018. Eoin McHugh departed at the beginning of the year, citing a desire to finish his studies and go travelling during the summer.

And only last week Peter Boyle, one of three goalkeepers that were part of the squad, left citing the potential for a lack of game-time after Shaun Patton took over against Kildare. Boyle had replaced Mark Anthony McGinley who was injured during the opening league tie against Kerry.

FUELLING

Donegal have started their Division 1 campaign promisingly despite losses to Kerry, Galway and Dublin with a win over Kildare fuelling them with some confidence to avoid relegation.

Carroll is one of the county’s more promising players who have emerged from a succession of good minor teams that current manager Declan Bonner has managed.

Meanwhile, John Connellan has returned to the Westmeath football squad after leaving it during last year’s championship. But midfielder Paul Sharry has not returned since St Loman’s Leinster final defeat in December and may not do so at this stage of the season.

Meanwhile, Wexford have lodged an appeal into the sending-off of Dáithí Waters in the hope that he will be available for Sunday’s crucial game with Offaly at Innovate Wexford Park.

Waters was red-carded in the footballers’ loss to Longford, but manager Paul McLoughlin has indicated that Wexford “are appealing the decision for we feel the decision was very harsh”.