Donegal announce panel to take on Monaghan in Dr McKenna Cup semi-final
Donegal manager Jim McGuinness - having had a proposed eight-week ban lifted for fielding an ineligible player in the opening round - has announced his panel ahead of their semi-final against Monaghan
As Donegal prepare to do battle with Monaghan this Sunday in Castleblayney in the Dr McKenna Cup semi-final, throw-in at 1pm.
The eventual victors in the final will go on to face Derry, managed by Mickey Harte who overcame Armagh in the other semi-final on a scoreline of 0-17 to 2-7.
The Naomh Conaill individual had received an eight-week ban for including an ineligible player in their lineup during the recent match against Armaghc, with Finbarr Roarty, who is only 17, participated in Donegal's initial competitive game of McGuinness's second tenure as manager.
If the suspension had remained in effect, McGuinness would have been ineligible to resume his managerial duties until Monday, March 4. This would have been a day after Donegal's fifth-round match against Louth.
Donegal's defense contended that fielding Roarty was a mere oversight, asserting that the management was unaware of a rule introduced as recently as 2016.
The Monaghan men have been in flying form this month, winning their opening two rounds, with a comprehensive 1-15 to 0-13 win over Antrim, while they squeezed past Fermanagh during the week in Brewster Park with a 2-9 to 0-12 point win to top their group.
However, Vinny Corey’s side that toppled Fermanagh on Wednesday night shared just four names with the starting 15 that were beaten by the eventual All-Ireland champions Dublin last summer, with Stephen O’Hanlon being the only one of the six forwards to play a minute of championship football last year.