Donegal senior footballers set for team holiday

BY RYAN FERRY

THE Donegal senior football team will head off on a team holiday later this month.

Donegal are entitled to a grant from Croke Park as they reached the 2025 All-Ireland Final.

As of last year, All-Ireland senior finalists each receive €150,000 towards their team holidays.

Donegal GAA Chairperson, Mary Coughlan confirmed that Donegal will be going abroad at the ‘end of October’.

The Chairperson said that the County Executive and County Committee have not yet been informed yet of the trip destination, and out of respect for both those bodies and the players’ safety, she declined to confirm exact details or where the team is going.

However, the Donegal News understands that the travelling party will visit Cancún in Mexico.

Coughlan also stated that the team will not be heading away on a pre-season training camp in the season ahead as they had done in the previous two years.

The St Naul’s clubperson said: “It was brought to the executive that there was a request to go ahead with a holiday for the team, and that went to tender.

“There were three tenders sought and one company was chosen.

“They have put a number of ideas and that has been accepted by the executive.

“It’s on the basis that it won’t cost the County Board any money so with fundraising and support from Croke Park, the lads will be going away on holiday, and it will be within the remit of the Revenue rules.

“Croke Park have a standard formula which allows so much money for them and then we have to put up the rest.

“It will be for the team and partners but of course not everyone can go (with other commitments).”

With the split season now in play, counties are heading away on their team holidays earlier than before as to avoid playing catch up when the season gets underway.

Kerry, who defeated Donegal in the All-Ireland Football Final, are expected to head to the United States and the Carribean in October while All-Ireland Hurling Champions, Tipperary will visit South Africa next month.

Coughlan feels it is a deserving reward for the Donegal footballers, who won the Ulster title last season and played 11 championship games in a mammoth campaign.

“They deserve a break because it’s been a long time on the go, and it will hopefully rejuvenate them, and they will get back on the horse again for another long season.

Meanwhile, Coughlan says Donegal GAA will have to evaluate their position after the CCCC on behalf of the Ulster Council imposed a fine of €7500 on the Donegal and Armagh County Boards following the unsavoury scenes at the end of the Ulster Final.

The CCCC had initially proposed the punishments for ‘disruptive conduct by players’ in July, but both parties requested a CHC hearing, which took place on Friday.

The CHC upheld the decision and both counties will now have to pay the fine or appeal to the association’s Central Appeals Committee.

It wasn’t until Monday that Coughlan was able to inform the clubs in Donegal of the decision, and she says will decide by an executive meeting this coming Monday whether they will appeal or otherwise, and she will then inform County Committee.