THE DONEGAL MASTERS team has been resurrected and play their first game of the 2016 Masters Championship this evening when they meet Antrim at Killyclogher, County Tyrone (8pm).
Donegal are two times winners of the Masters All-Ireland, but the team hasn’t been in action in recent years.
However, they return to action this evening, the Donegal entry having been restored under the direction of Donegal Masters Chairperson Paul Gallagher from Naomh Muire.
Gallagher has returned from a spell in the Middle East and formed a committee, including Charlie Gallagher and Emmet McCormick.
“I was watching Irish TV one day last September and the finals were on; I was thinking: ‘Why the hell don’t Donegel enter this?’” Paul Gallagher told Donegal Sport Hub.
“A lot of boys my age are in the wilderness here so it’s good to keep us fit and active, which is the main thing here.”
Gallagher dabbled in a spot of soccer with Gweedore Celtic upon his return home, but retired last year at 42.
“I thought about setting up a Masters team so I just put a message up online and got a load of interested people.
“I took it on as a sort of project about the how, the when and the who. We got a structure together and we got about 40 players out.”
The team is managed by Kilcar’s John McNulty, who has recruited Darragh Dolan to assust. Kevin Gallagher from MacCumhaills is assistant and the team has a PR team of Chris Doherty and Stephen ‘Dotsy’ Doherty.
They received sponsorship from Abbots and Warehouse Bar & Kitchen, as well as All Sports Donegal town, Safe Tech and McGlynn’s Restaurant, Castlefin.
The home games will be played at Colaiste Ailigh in Letterkenny.
“The boys have been training away since the end of April and are really looking forward to the game,” Paul Gallagher said.
Donegal are in group one with Antrim, Cavan, Leitrim, Monaghan and Tyrone.
Group two comprises Galway, Longford, Mayo, Offaly, Sligo and Westmeath.
Donegal had hoped to include former Donegal senior goalkeeper Tony Blake, but a recent shoulder injury has ruled him out, with Naomh Columba’s Martin Gillespie the likely man to get the number 1 shirt.
Among those who could feature is former All-Star Adrian Sweeeney, while Kevin McGettigan of Termon, Emmet McCormick from MacCumhaills, Michael and David McShane from Kilcar, Kevin ‘Cookie’ Gallagher of Downings, Glenfin pair Liam Breen and Johnny McGinty and Glenswilly duo Gerard McGrenra and Charlie Bonner.
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