THE DONEGAL Under-21s, under manager Declan Bonner, will represent the county in next month’s Dr McKenna Cup.
Management from the senior and under-21 set-ups have been in discussions with the Donegal County Board on the matter, but it will be the Under-21s that will line out against UUJ, Tyrone and Cavan..
Donegal will have home advantage at MacCumhaill Park in Ballybofey on Sunday, January 8, before a home fixture against Cavan at the same venue a week later. Then, on Wednesday January 18, it’s a tricky fixture at Healy Park against Ulster champions Tyrone.
Of Gallagher’s senior panel, 16 would be unavailable for the competition.
A raft of players are set to play for Colleges in the McKenna Cup, O’Byrne Cup and FBD League: Patrick McBrearty, Ryan McHugh, Eoin McHugh (UUJ); Martin O’Reilly (Queens); Caolan Ward (IT Carlow); Caolan McGonigle Cian Mulligan, Conor Morrison, Hugh McFadden (DCU); Jamie Brennan, Eoghan Ban Gallagher, Eamonn McGrath (IT Sligo); Kieran Gillespie, Ciaran Thompson (DIT); and Mark Coyle (GMIT).
On top of that, Paddy McGrath will be away on his honeymoon next month and Eamonn Doherty, who had an injury recently, will only return to training in mid-January.
Donegal senior manager Rory Gallagher is keen for his experienced players to get an extra break from competitive action ahead of the Allianz League.
With all that in mind, the Under-21s will now get a baptism of fire with tough games against UUJ, Cavan and Tyrone.
[adrotate group=”46″]The move is similar to 2013 when Maxi Curran, now a selector with Gallagher, managed his Under-21s in the competition during Jim McGuinness’s tenure as manager.
Donegal returned to collective training last weekend and will play Sligo in a challenge game this Sunday at Colaiste Ailigh.
Donegal’s Under-21s are also to play in the North-West Cup from January as their preparations for their Ulster Under-21 Championship clash with Tyrone in March.
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