Gavin Mulreany returns to the starting lineup as Donegal eyes McKenna Cup glory
Jim McGuinness makes four changes to the side that eased their way past Monaghan last weekend as he hopes to clinch his first piece of silverware since his return as manager
St Naul’s goalkeeper Gavin Mulreany is set to make his first start of 2024 as Donegal go in search of their 12th Dr McKenna Cup when they face off with Mickey Harte’s Derry in the final in Omagh, throw-in at 5pm
Donegal have made four changes to the side that faced Monaghan in last week's semi-final with the St Naul’s trio of Mulreany, Brendan McCole and Peadar Mogan returning to the starting lineup.
Jim McGuinness’s side are looking for their first McKenna Cup trophy since 2018, in what was Declan Bonner’s first season in charge as manager.
McCole is the only player to take to the field that day six years ago who will also start in the final for Donegal. Although, Shaun Patton, Stephen McMenamin, and Dáire O’Baoill who started that day in the Athletic Grounds in 2018 will be a part of tomorrow’s squad.
With three different winners of the McKenna Cup in the last three outings of the competition (it was not played in 2021) both mangers will be looking to boost their side’s morale and clinch early silverware before the commencement of the National Football League next weekend.
Harte has named a strong side with Conor McCluskey making a welcome return for the Oak Leaf County, while Shane McGuigan, Gareth McKinless and Brendan Rogers are also expected to start.
However, the Derry side who are the reigning McKenna Cup champions will have to make do without their Watty Graham’s Glen colleagues, most notably Conor Glass, who go in search of All-Ireland club glory this weekend in Croke Park.
Harte, however, will be in comfortable territory as he returns to Healy Park, the official ground of the county he was manager of for nearly two decades, but the Tyrone native knows that his record against old foe McGuinness is not in his favour, with the 2012 All-Ireland winning manager recording four out five victories against Harte.
Both these managers last faced each other on the sideline during the Ulster quarter-final of 2013, where Donegal emerged 2-10 to 0-10 point victors against Tyrone.
McGuinness never won the McKenna Cup during his first term as manager, though he has been featuring a rather strong side throughout the 2024 campaign as he looks to win Donegal’s first trophy since 2019.
The Naomh Conaill man initiated the competition with a straightforward triumph against a youthful Armagh side. However, a controversy ensued when it was discovered that he had included Finbarr Roarty (then aged 17), rendering him ineligible.
As a consequence, the outcome was overturned and McGuinness faced a reprimand, receiving an eight-week touchline ban, which was subsequently annulled by the hearings committee of Ulster GAA.
Despite the upheaval, Donegal maintained their momentum. Following the Armagh opener, McGuinness’s men journeyed to Omagh to face Tyrone, securing victory by a narrow two-point margin to advance to the semi-finals where they dominated Monaghan.