BY RYAN FERRY
IT’S been a hectic January for Caolan McGonagle so far but the big Buncrana man is taking it all in his stride.
McGonagle was captain of Donegal last Saturday against Monaghan and lifted the Dr McKenna Cup afterwards.
The Crana College teacher also lined out against Derry and impressed but was absent for the season’s opener against Antrim.
McGonagle had good reason for missing out as on his 30th birthday, his first born child Oisin entered the world.
Oisin’s arrival was a tad earlier than anticipated but both baby and Caolan’s partner Ciara are doing well.
A different type of home life will now have to be balanced with training and matches but the big centre half-back says he has good support back at base.
“I was down to play against Antrim but he surprised us. He came two weeks early.
“Everybody’s home now and everyone’s doing well.
“It’ll be alright. I’ll do my best but she’ll do most of the heavy lifting now in fairness to her.”
McGonagle is pleased to be back fit and is hoping for an injury-free 2026.
He has been a key figure under Jim McGuinness and has made the number six jersey his home.
He has good defensive instincts and also brings size and power to the team which is particularly helpful on opposition kick-outs.
McGonagle played in the Ulster Final after missing two games but then got injured against Tyrone in the All-Ireland Series.
He worked his way back and was introduced in the semi-final win over Meath.
It was of no great surprise that McGuinness turned to one of his trusted lieutenants for the final and McGonagle scored a fantastic point off his weaker left foot early on.
However, it didn’t play out the way he would have liked.
“Obviously it’s hard to get over. I don’t know – you just have to deal with it and get on with it again. You go back into the club and you’re back on the wagon again so.
“The club finished a bit earlier than I would have liked but you take a couple of weeks to freshen the body and you get back on it.”
“It’s nice to get back in playing games. Last year was sort of stop start for me so you’re hoping this year to good a run of it in pre-season and try and stay healthy for the season.”
Things may have been at a low ebb after the defeat to Kerry but an infusion of youth has sparked the Donegal camp back into life.
Young, hungry players have been brought in and that will keep everyone on their toes.
Derry, Tyrone, Monaghan, and Armagh have all been in All-Ireland Minor Finals over the last three years.
Donegal haven’t enjoyed the success they would have liked at underage level but they have been competitive.
McGonagle saw that and isn’t surprised that the promising youngsters have come in and made an impact.
“We’ve had good Donegal U20 teams and stuff so you knew there was good players there.
“Again, it’s always a different ask in senior football but they’ve come in and they’ve done very well and they’ve a good attitude and that’s the main one.”
“That’s exactly what you want in a team like you don’t want boys thinking they’re going to be starting every week so you want to be pushed on and these young boys are doing that now so.”
He added: “They’re getting a chance now to show what they can do. They’re probably thinking this is my chance to make teams in the league and the championship. So every time they go out it’s another opportunity.”
Donegal’s league campaign got off to a false start last year when the game with Kerry was called off because of Storm Éowyn.
Other openers in recent years against Cork (2024), Kerry (2023), and Mayo in Sligo (2022) have been played out in challenging conditions.
Late January football is rarely for the purists but heading to Croke Park has a different feel, and the GAA’s Headquarters enjoys TLC that other grounds don’t.
“Anytime you go to Croke Park it’s a good day out so good to get the league back up and going there now and get the juices flowing for the summer ahead.”
Donegal will have to get to the pitch of things quickly in the National League with Dublin up first before Kerry come to Ballyshannon and Mayo visit Letterkenny.
A strong start will ease the pressure but McGonagle says there will be nothing going handy and he wouldn’t want there to be.
“There’ll be no easy games in the league.
“It’s Division 1 football after all but that’s what you want that’s why you play for Donegal you want to play the best teams and this is another chance again.”
