Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Odhran in Dec plans for county
DONEGAL boss Declan Bonner is hoping versatile ace Odhran Macniallais will return to county football.
Macniallais has featured in just one of the last three seasons for his county.
In 2017, the Gaoth Dobhair clubman elected to take a break from top-flight action before making himself available for the 2018 season.
But in this year’s League and Championship programmes, Bonner and his players had once more to make do without the outstanding ability of Macniallais in their chase for silverware.
“Odhran was keen to play for the county this year, but he lost a number of friends in a car crash last January and that had a very traumatic effect on him,” explained Bonner on Macniallais, who is still only 27-years-old and set to line out for his club in Sunday’s Donegal final against Naomh Conaill.
“Obviously at the moment Odhran’s football focus is totally on the county final and so I haven’t been speaking with him regarding the possibility of him playing with the county in next year’s competitions.
“After the county final, I’ll give Odhran a bit of time and I’ll have a chat with him regarding the possibility of him playing with Donegal once again.
“And hopefully Odhran will make himself re-available.
“He’s a player of real talent and his return would be a huge boost to Donegal’s prospects of doing well in next year’s League and Championship.
“And at his age, he has plenty of time if he wants to play on with the county,” added Bonner.