You get the sense that Donegal and Rory Gallagher intend on moving another direction this term.
His pointed explanation on how he envisages a certain cluster of young guns progressing seems to hint that this is really it – the changing of the guard. It won’t be seismic. With just Eamon McGee and Colm McFadden deciding they’ve had enough; Gallagher will still have some serious and weighted experience in his midst.
But that, you feel, will be as much in voice and guidance as it will be in legs. A back seat might have to be taken by some, much in the same McFadden was, for most part, a peripheral playing figure last term. Gallagher can be quite coy about giving too much away – particularly in summer.
He’s skilled at saying quite a lot without really saying that much at all. All county managers and players seem to be like that nowadays. But this is early doors in the campaign – a ball is yet to be kicked. It’s a time when they’re, not off guard, but they’re certainly always more candid around this time of year.
He was surprisingly insightful and affirmative on what he expects from a number of youngsters that were softly introduced to the senior set-up in recent times.
He explained: “We’re looking forward to a lot of new faces and seeing how they develop over the next while. We’re approaching this with a very open mind.
“We’re hoping the younger lads brought in will be serious county footballers in time. We can see they have great ability and natural talent. It’s a big step up from minor and U21 to senior. We’re hopeful they’ll develop well.
“We had a number of lads in the squad last year who will be ready for that challenge this year. Lads like Ciaran Gillespie came in and hit the ground running. We’ve Eoin Ban Gallagher, Stephen McBrearty, Michael Carroll and Ciaran Thompson. Those lads are very close to playing consistently.”
All of the aforementioned were physically dominant individuals for their various underage county sides. That, the boss agrees, does make it a little easier to find some traction at the ultimate level.
But the bar continues to be raised there. Even with all the strength and conditioning that they bring it is – for an initial period – still a major shock to their young and still developing systems.
“They are all very well physically put together,” said Gallagher. “Caolan McGonagle is another. But they have to continue to work at that level. The bar keeps rising, it has done since 2011 when we’d have had a couple of really good years.
“The bar has been pushed up further again by the Dublins, Mayos, Kerrys and Tyrones of this world. So these lads know that they need to go to another level now. It doesn’t just happen because they’ve had good success at minor or U21.
“Since December 1 that has been the focus and it continues to be the focus ever since.”
Players learn as they go. Managers do too. Gallagher has had two serious disappointments to date as Donegal boss. The narrative is, in the Hills at least, that Donegal left two Ulster SFC titles behind them in that same period. The hope is that is can be third time lucky for him.
Learning
Gallagher continues: “I think every day, regardless of what you’re doing, you’re learning. There is so much to management now. There is an organization end of it. You’re dealing with the county board. You have backroom teams and even the media.
“It’s very busy but it’s enjoyable. It’s why we all are involved with the GAA. Having been involved for five of the last six years it’s very familiar. A huge part of it is developing relationships with everyone. You get to know players better and how best to get the best out of them. That’s the challenging part for any coaching or management team.
“That’s the challenge for us again this year. We will be gelling some of the younger lads in and seeing the group get to know each other. We’ll be looking at how we can maximize their potential. That’s the exciting part of coaching and managing. It’s the enjoyable part too.
“We’ve had six years of a prolonged period for a number of players that have been playing for a long period. It’s definitely time for new blood. We’re looking forward to that.”
One player that can, and you just know will, be influential in coaxing that influx of new faces along will be Ryan McHugh. McHugh is still a baby himself but his development since 2013 has been phenomenal.
Similar to how Michael Murphy was prepared to lead almost from the very off, McHugh is too. Like Karl Lacey’s first two All-Stars, McHugh’s winning of one last term, in a campaign when Donegal didn’t reach their intended goals; well, that marks him out as something unique and very special.
Gallagher is well aware that he has, in McHugh, someone that can act as the yardstick for his new additions.
“Ryan’s had a number of very good years. Obviously, there are lots of leaders in the Donegal panel. But someone close to the age of the lads coming, he is definitely setting a good example.
“I’ve known him since he was 15 or 16 and since he’s come in in 2013 he’s applied himself and trained as hard as he can. It doesn’t just happen without that dedication. He’s not a big man naturally but he’s physically filled out. He’d be very conscious of his diet programme and his training.
“Touch wood to date, for a guy that has played so much football, he’s had no serious injuries. He’s come into his own over the last few years with some exceptional displays. Like the rest of the lads, there is a very high level of expectancy there now.
“He’s been involved with a lot of underage success with Kilcar so he has those leadership qualities. It’s great that he’s established himself like he has and that he still has so many years left in front of him.
“He deserved his All-Star. There is no doubt that every player would swap them for provincial and All-Ireland titles. But when you get that individual recognition it’s nice. It’s by putting the team first that you indirectly stand out like that. Ryan is very much a team player.”
Donegal, albeit a very experimental version, get the new season under way in the McKenna Cup this weekend in a section that includes University of Ulster, Cavan and Tyrone. The manager makes no secret that he’s no great lover of the pre-season competition so momentum might really only begin to build when the NFL throws in on February 5 as Donegal welcome Kerry to the North West.
Donegal might well be in a period of transition. But their ambitions remain the same. Gallagher is adamant that the side’s objectives haven’t changed.
He said: “Without a doubt, absolutely. We can’t hide from the reality that players are retiring and that players are there that have been there for a long time. We have new players coming in too. But we approach 2017 feeling we’ve an extremely good squad. We’ve a good mix of ages and experience.
“We might carry a slightly larger squad because there is no U21 competition in 2018. That’s a huge part of it. We’re very much focused on the National League and the championship. We’re delighted and excited about the quality of players at our disposal. We’ll be going all guns blazing to realise those ambitions and to make them a reality.”
Meanwhile, Donegal have named a very inexperienced squad for the Dr. McKenna Cup with just three players, Eoghan Ban Gallagher, Stephen McBrearty and Michael Carroll the only ones with previous senior experience.
With Declan Bonner being handed the reins there, they get the 2017 campaign under way this Sunday against Martin McHugh’s University of Jordanstown, Belfast in MacCumhaill Park, Ballybofey with a 2 pm throw-in.
Eoin and Ryan McHugh and Patrick McBrearty are part of the ranks there so Tir Chonaill’s young guns are in for a real baptism of fire at this level.
Donegal Panel: Danny Rodgers (An CLochán Liath), Dáire Ó Baoill (Gaoth Dobhair) Tony McCleneghan (Bun a Phobail), Niall Friel (Gaoth Dobhair), Stephen McMenamin (Aodh Rua Cúil na gCuirridín) Ciaran Gibbons (Gleann tSuilí), Colm Kelly (Aodh Ruadh), Michael Lynch (Naomh Colmcille), Conor Morrison (Naomh Adhamhnáin), Danny Monagle (Carndomhnaigh), Andrew McClean (Cill Cartha), Eoghan Bán Gallagher (Na Cealla Beaga), Stephen McBrearty (Cill Cartha), Jamie Brennan (Bun Dobhrain), Michael Carroll (Gaoth Dobhair), Dylan Doherty (Bun a Phobail), Christian Bonner (Na Rossa), Daniel Clarke (Naomh Colmcille), Niall O’ Donnell (Naomh Adhamhnáin), Naoise Ó Baoill (Gaoth Dobhair), Michael Langan (Naomh Mícheál), Ciaran Diver (Bun a Phobail), Jason McGee (Cloich Cheann Fhaola), Brendan McCole (Naomh Náille), John Campbell (Bun Cranacha), Ethan O’ Donnell (Naomh Conaill).
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