DONEGAL MANAGER Rory Gallagher admits that he will be handing out several debuts on Sunday when his side face Kerry in Letterkenny.
Donegal begin their Allianz League against the Kingdom at O’Donnell Park and it will be a much-changed Tir Chonaill side that takes to the field.
Following a swathe of retirements and withdrawals from the panel, a new era will be ushered in on Sunday afternoon.
“We will be giving a lot of young lads an opportunity, but it is a well-deserved opportunity,” Gallagher told Donegal Sport Hub.
“They have knuckled down and their work-rate, attitude and quality has been top class.
“We have had three good minor teams on the bounce and won two Ulster Championships. They have had good exposure.
“It’s a massive step up. The big thing is we want players with the right attitude and character. They have to have that hunger and burning desire. It’s one thing to say it, but it’s another thing to work on it.
“We want to create more competitiveness within the squad – and that’s what we’re doing.
“Team spirit in any team sport is huge. The older lads have made a big effort to integrate with the younger lads.”
Gallagher didn’t participate in the Dr McKenna Cup this year, instead fielding his side in challenge games with the McKenna Cup left to Declan Bonner’s Under-21s.
However, Gallagher is confident as he heads into the new campaign
He said: “We didn’t go at the National League as hard in 2015 or 2016. We felt this year, with such young players, we had to go put the work in and get ourselves ready for it.
“We have to get our style of play ready now. We’re looking forward with more optimism and enjoying it more. The young players want to prove themselves – and that’s exciting.”
Listen to the full interview below …
https://soundcloud.com/donegalsportstalk/rory-gallagher-before-donegal-v-kerry
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