THE serious business begins with the start of the National Football League next weekend and Paddy McBrearty predicts challenge after challenge for Donegal throughout the rest of this season.
McBrearty started all four Dr McKenna Cup games for the Tir Chonaill men and brought his personal tally to 16 points with a three-point haul in Saturday night’s narrow loss to Monaghan in the final. The Kilcar clubman thrives on early ball and he looked in fine form early on at Healy Park. The supply dried up until the final 15 minutes and he was part of a gallant Donegal fightback that pushed Monaghan all the way to the final whistle.
Despite the loss, McBrearty says the pre-season competition was excellent preparation for his county’s Division One campaign which begins against Mayo next Sunday.
“We’ve got four games under our belts and a lot of young players got game-time – and some older boys got more game-time – so overall, although we’re disappointed we didn’t win, we’re happy enough with how it went,” said McBrearty.
“The McKenna Cup is about finding new players for the League and Championship and we’ve done that. I think a couple of lads have put their hand up.”
Emerging players have come in and done well in Declan Bonner’s side but it was veteran Michael Murphy who had the biggest influence in Saturday night’s final. Murphy inspired a comeback after he came on at half-time and Donegal fans must be concerned that confidence and resolve seems to seep out of their side when Murphy isn’t on the pitch.
“Michael is always going to have an impact and he’s going to draw more of the Monaghan team to him so he took us back into the game really,” said McBreaty.
“It’s just unfortunate we didn’t get over the line in the end. In the second quarter we were very poor and even the third quarter we were very poor. It wasn’t until the second water break that we started getting into it and let the shackles off so it’s something we need to look at before next weekend.”
But for a brilliant Dessie Ward tackle on Peadar Mogan, Donegal could have won the McKenna Cup and among the many positives was the return of Odhran McFadden-Ferry who missed last season because he was on duty with the Irish Army in Lebanon. The returns of experienced players like Hugh McFadden and Oisin Gallen will also strengthen the team.
“I’m happy to get through the four games injury-free and I’m looking forward to the National League and Championship now,” said McBrearty who will hope to continue his form against Mayo at Sligo’s Markievicz Park on Sunday.
“It suits us better going there instead of away to Castlebar.
“There are no easy games for us this year at all. When you look through the fixtures, it is going to be really tough to stay in Division One and we’re going to have to lay down a couple of markers in the next couple of weeks. We have Kildare at home after that and then we’re down in Killarney. They are three tough games to start off with.”
