IT WAS belief that encouraged Paddy McGrath to pledge a commitment to Donegal for another year – a belief in Declan Bonner’s young guns.
The Ardara man made his 100th Donegal appearance in the League win over Cork in March.
The 2012 All-Ireland winner had a winter of rehab on an injury, but is ready for another Championship summer – starting with Sunday’s Ulster SFC quarter-final against Fermanagh in Enniskillen.
“I’m excited about this team and excited about the younger generation,” McGrath told Donegal Daily/Donegal Sport Hub this week.
“That’s a reason I’m still playing. If I didn’t think that we could push on then I wouldn’t be here. I think we can compete with the best teams in Ireland.
“I’m very excited about getting a new campaign up and running. We’re ready for this game. We’ve done a lot of training and we just want to get out on the field.”
Donegal romped to victory over Fermanagh in last year’s Ulster final, delivering the Anglo Celt in the first year of Bonner’s second term as Donegal’s manager.
McGrath said: “Every cup you get you can take learning. The younger lads have an Ulster medal now so they’ll take last year’s experience into this year.
“The young fellas who have come in have done so well. It’s so encouraging. Take Oisin Gallen, he had a very good League. This team is different from last year and there are a lot of positives there.”
Listen to the full interview below …
