McGonagle fit and ready after frustrating summer

BY RYAN FERRY

IT’S been a frustrating summer for Caolan McGonagle but the big Buncrana man is fit and willing ahead of the All-Ireland Final.

For so much of Jim McGuinness’s second coming, McGonagle has been the rock at centre half-back.

He’s a natural midfielder, but even at times during the league when Donegal were struggling to win primary possession, McGonagle remained at number six.

The 29-year-old has been one of Donegal’s most consistent performers heading back to the end of Declan Bonner’s reign but this hasn’t been the summer he envisaged.

While Donegal have played ten championship matches, McGonagle has only featured in four of them and came off early in two.

However, he is back fit again now and showed during his cameo in the semi-final that he brings aggression and defensive nous to the half-back line.

“It’s been frustrating watching the boys but you have to give all credit to them they have got me this far and they have given me a chance to get back in,” said the Maths and PE teacher at Crana College.

“I had a bit of a stress injury in my foot. Nothing too major.

“I’ve been able to get at it for the last few weeks. I had a good lead in to the Meath game and I was pleased to get a few minutes.

“Everybody wants to break into the team so when you get that chance (you have to take it).

“There were boys sitting on the bench that didn’t get the chance. I did so you have to go in and try and make the most of it.”

McGonagle is a relaxed individual both on the field and off it.

He doesn’t get too high with emotions or too low when things aren’t going to plan.

He brings a sensible approach and is unlikely to fret too much about the game in the lead-up to Sunday’s match.

“Every team goes out at the start of the year with the aim of getting to the All-Ireland Final and luckily we are there now.

“Obviously everyone who gets into an All-Ireland Final wants to win it.

“You just keep taking it game by game and getting over the line and obviously we are delighted to be there. We will look forward to it.”

McGonagle has encountered All-Ireland Final Day before as he was part of the Donegal team that faced Kerry in 2014 Minor decider.

Brian Ó Beaglaoich, Shane Ryan, Killian Spillane, Micheal Burns and Barry O’Sullivan were all part of the Kingdom team that won by 0-17 to 1-10.

The likes of Kieran Gillespie, Ethan O’Donnell, Micheál Carroll, Cian Mulligan and Andrew McClean from that squad went on to play senior championship football for Donegal at some stage, while four members of the team remain.

That Under 18 decider is long gone now but McGonagle hopes to return to the winning dressing room this time and become the second Buncrana man after Ryan Bradley to pick up a celtic cross medal.

“(I played in) The Minor Final back in ’14 and that was against Kerry as well.

“Obviously we didn’t get the result we wanted that day.

“We will look to win the game (on Sunday) of course.

“Myself, Eoghan ‘Ban’ (Gallagher), Jamie Brennan and Stephen McMenamin were all part of it.”