BY RYAN FERRY
Donegal hurler Gerard Gilmore says his team have knuckled down in pre-season training to make sure they can enjoy a good 2026 in the green and gold jersey.
There were highs and lows over the course of a memorable 2025 season.
Mickey McCann’s men broke new ground with impressive wins over Kerry and Meath.
However, they were still relegated to Division 3 despite a spirited effort and while they managed to retain their Christy Ring status, there was a nagging feeling that they left some results behind them.
They’ll be back in the Christy Ring this season and the work to get ready for that high standard of competition is already underway.
The team are set to make their season’s bow this evening (Thursday) at 7.30pm with neighbours Tyrone the opponents in the Conor McGurk Cup.
“I’m looking forward to the year ahead,” said Gilmore.
“The county season comes around quickly after the club season in Donegal.
“We have knuckled down in training and we have our targets set so hopefully we will meet them now.
“Any time you’re asked to pull on a Donegal jersey, it’s an honour and you just want to get started and playing games. We’re excited about it.
“I feel we learned a lot from last year and we know now what it takes to play at Christy Ring level.
“That’s what we are training towards and hopefully it will all pay off.”
It’s been a busy few years for Gilmore as he has juggled his county commitments alongside playing with Setanta.
And trying to make the best use of the calendar is a task for all hurlers with the way the season is set up.
“It is something you have to be mindful of, particularly with your training load.
“You have to be careful not to over-train.
“It’s important to try and get a week or two of a break in between the club and the county.
“That’s as much about trying to keep the head fresh as anything. If you don’t, you’re going to be mentally drained and you won’t want to go out and hurl or get out of the house to go and train.
“The club championship comes quickly after Donegal finish up and then you have that long break of up to 12 weeks before Ulster starts.
“Ourselves, ‘Eunan’s and Burt were all involved and from chatting to the boys at county training, they all worked very hard in the lead-up.
“Burt got to the All-Ireland semi-final but the Setanta and St Eunan’s boys have all been back in for a while now.
“A couple of weeks of rest is probably enough and then you’re raring to get going again for the following season.”
Talented youngsters such as Dan Donnelly and Jacob Malone from Sean MacCumhaills have been called into panel this year, and there are other players on the fringes who will likely see more game time.
Christopher McDermott and Michael Donoghue have retired while some key men from last season will also be unavailable incluing Sean McVeigh won’t be in the mix.
“Steven McBride and Sean Ward are away with the Army this year and Ruairi Campbell has opted out for the season.
“They are going to be big boots to fill but there are some good young boys coming in.
“I know we got relegated in the league last season and we are now down in Division 3 but that’s probably the perfect opportunity to blood in those young boys and give them plenty of hurling and get them exposed to inter-county.
“That will stand to them in the long run. It’s great to get them up so young because they are eager and us older boys will try and help with the experience that we have and it will be their team to lead in years to come.”
Gilmore has welcomed the return of pre-season competitions this year but it hasn’t been a straight-forward start to the Conor McGurk Cup.
The weather has wrecked havoc and it reached the stage that three matches had to be decided by a coin toss.
That was the method by which Tyrone got the better of Fermanagh and the Red Hands come to Convoy for a good opener tonight.
The winners will be back in action on Sunday in the semi-final against Jordanstown.
It’s all a bit messy but it’s hoped that the weather will play ball from now on.
Donegal are due to meet Tyrone in their first National League Division 3 match at Healy Park on January 25.
The Red Hands had a poor season in 2025 but they have scope for improvement and Donegal will get an insight into what might be coming their way in two weeks’ time.
Gilmore said: “We’re glad that the Conor McGurk Cup is back because it saves a lot of hassle with trying to organise challenge games and all that.
“I’m sure Mickey will give the new players a chance to see what they are made of.
“If they get in and impress, I’m sure they will get the chance to make their league debuts as well.
“The ultimate aim is to get back up to Division 2 so we will knuckle down now and we will try and make sure we get a good start to help towards that, and then build towards the Christy Ring.”
