Football

Odhran MacNiallais rules out Donegal return

12/06/2016: Donegal's Odhran MacNiallais celebrates his second goal against Fermanagh during the Ulster Senior Championship quarter final match at Ballybofey on Sunday. Picture Margaret McLaughlin © please by-line
12/06/2016: Donegal's Odhran MacNiallais celebrates his second goal against Fermanagh during the Ulster Senior Championship quarter final match at Ballybofey on Sunday. Picture Margaret McLaughlin © please by-line 12/06/2016: Donegal's Odhran MacNiallais celebrates his second goal against Fermanagh during the Ulster Senior Championship quarter final match at Ballybofey on Sunday. Picture Margaret McLaughlin © please by-line

VERSATILE Donegal midfielder Odhran MacNiallais has confirmed that he will not be re-joining Declan Bonner’s squad for their upcoming Championship campaign.

The Gaoth Dobhair player, who also opted out in 2017, had taken an extended break after his club’s run to the All-Ireland semi-final in February.

Speculation had been growing that MacNiallais would extend his break to cover the rest of this season and the player confirmed as much yesterday after his side’s Division One win over Sean MacCumhaill’s.

"No, I'm not going back. I spoke to Declan (Bonner) there last week, and told him that I'm not going to play this year,” he told Highland Radio.

"I just have no real interest in football at the minute to be honest. The last few weeks, even training with the club, I haven't really enjoyed it.

"I just don't have the hunger and the desire there to give the commitment to Donegal. I explained that to Declan last week. He was very good about it.”

Donegal start their Ulster Championship campaign in six weeks’ time when they travel to Fermanagh in a repeat of last year’s provincial final.

There was better news elsewhere for Bonner yesterday as Paddy McBrearty continued his recovery with a goal in Kilcar’s comfortable win over Milford.