By Michael McMullan

JIM McGuinness says he gets a gut feeling if a newcomer is ready to step into senior inter-county football.

His comments come after Shea Malone marked his league debut with the goal that effectively beat Dublin at Croke Park on Saturday.

Malone is one of a host of newcomers who came into the squad since the start of the season.

Max Campbell, Ultan Doherty, Kieran Gallagher (all Naomh Conaill), Paul O’Hare (Naomh Columba), Eoin McGeehin (St Eunan’s), Conor McCahill, Kevin Muldoon, Seanán and Turlough Carr (all Four Masters) have stepped into action.

Last year it was Finnbarr Roarty who excelled all the way to his All-Star and Young Player of the Year award.

“Your gut tells you, I suppose, in many respects,” McGuinness said in response to when a player is ready.

“You see them in training every night and every single thing that they do in training, they’re judged on. So are all the other players.”

With younger players, there are indicators to look out for before they can step into the world of senior county action.

“Can he control the ball under pressure when the big squeeze comes on, can he deal with that?” McGuinness explained.

“Can he find a half a metre of space. Dublin stepped very, very, very aggressively on us in the second half and that had an impact on our play.

“It’s bits and pieces like that, you’re looking for those types of things and you’re looking for them to sort of tick boxes,” he said of any thought process.

“There’s going to be ups and downs with them, there’s no doubt about that. You expect that in a way for young lads but that’s all part of it.”