October appointment of Donegal manager likely as candidates to be interviewed again

A new Donegal senior football manager will not be appointed at tonight’s meeting of the Donegal county committee.

Hopes were high around the county that a name would be recommended to delegates tonight at the September county committee meeting.

Following the withdrawals of Gary McDaid and Seamus McEnaney from the race to succeed Rory Gallagher as Donegal manager, the five-person selection panel tasked with finding a new boss interviewed the remaining candidates last week.

Declan Bonner, Cathal Corey and Sean Paul Barrett were interviewed during the week by the committee, which comprises County Chairman Sean Dunnion, County Secretary Aideen Gillen, County Treasurer Cieran Kelly as well as Damian Diver and Paddy Carr.

A second round of interviews with the candidates is understood to have been held yesterday evening following the two Donegal senior football championship semi-finals.

It is believed that the selection committee will convene with the candidates a third time.

The October meeting of the county committee, due to be held on Monday, October 2, now appears a more realistic date for the white smoke to billow.