By Michael McMullan MICHAEL Murphy sees Kerry as an “incredible” challenge in Sunday’s All-Ireland final showdown as Donegal take aim on taking Sam Maguire to the hills for the third time. The 2012 winning captain spent the last two seasons pouring over the race for Sam in his role as analyst before answering the call […]
‘The challenge is huge’ – Jim McGuinness
BY RYAN FERRY DONEGAL manager Jim McGuinness says the challenge in front of his team is huge as they aim to land the Sam Maguire Cup for only the third time in the county’s history. It has been a mammoth campaign to get through to this stage. No team has ever had to play 11 […]
Kerry name their squad for Sunday’s showdown with Donegal
By Michael McMullan KERRY have named their team for Sunday’s All-Ireland final clash with Ulster champions Donegal. Jack O’Connor has named the same starting 15 from their semi-final win over Tyrone with Diarmuid O’Connor listed on the squad. The Kingdom, like they have done all through the championship, have listed 13 subs which will be […]
KEVIN CASSIDY: The big one has arrived
SO here it is. Like I mentioned last week, we have the two best teams in the final and I don’t think anyone can argue with that. This final will be interesting for a number of reasons which we will get into later but one of the most interesting factors is the contrast in styles. […]
Roles clear under McGuinness’ watch
By Michael McMullan THERE is no second-guessing your role when playing under Jim McGuinness, stresses captain Patrick McBrearty. McGuinness handed a teenage McBrearty his championship debut against Antrim in 2011, having played in the minor curtain-raiser. Since lifting the Anglo Celt Cup for a second time earlier in the season, McBrearty has been used in […]
The bigger picture: Skipper leads Donegal’s benchmark
Patrick McBrearty played in Donegal’s 2012 All-Ireland winning team as a teenager. He will lead the county onto the Croke Park sod on Sunday as captain. Michael McMullan writes…. IT’S all about Donegal for Patrick McBrearty. Yeah, he’d love to be a guaranteed starter, but it’s not as easy or as simple as that. McBrearty […]
McGuinness looks to “absolutely huge” task of curbing Kerry’s attack
By Michael McMullan THERE is plenty of football chat in the car as Jim McGuinness and his son Mark Anthony shoot the breeze on the way to Donegal’s press evening. The buildup to Sunday’s decider is fulling column inches and airwaves all week. How Donegal stop David Clifford is number on talking point to most. […]
And then there were two: The story of semi-final weekend
It was a mixed weekend for Ulster. Tyrone were chinned by Clifford brilliance. Donegal bore their ruthless side. Michael McMullan takes a look. FOUR became two over the weekend as the race for Sam heads towards the final fork in the road. Donegal and Kerry are left standing but two into one doesn’t go. Tyrone put […]
Roarty lauds the Donegal fans
By Michael McMullan FINNBARR Roarty paid tribute to the Donegal fans after Sunday’s comprehensive victory over Meath booked a spot against Kerry in the All-Ireland final later this month. The Naomh Conaill defender, in his first season in the team, was named as man of the match in front of a full house in Croke […]
McHugh bridges 11-year gap to return to the season’s biggest Sunday
By Michael McMullan ELEVEN years is a long time but Ryan McHugh is glad to be back preparing for the biggest Sunday of the year. It has been an exciting few weeks with Ryan and his wife Bridget becoming parents to their son Senan, who was born before their quarter-final win over Monaghan. Ryan was […]









