ST EUNAN’S manager Barry Meehan says he is happy to give his county players a break so that they can enjoy some downtime and be fresh for the business end of the championship.

Shaun Patton, Shane O’Donnell, Ciaran Moore, Caolan Ward, and Niall O’Donnell were all involved with the county team this year.

And while St Eunan’s are keen to retain the Dr Maguire, Meehan is well aware that it has been an arduous year for those players already.

“I’m very conscious that after the Errigal Ciaran game last year, most of them went straight into the county set-up and they haven’t had a break from football since.

“As far as I am concerned they are on their downtime at the moment.

“I know what it is like at Club Championship level when teams are training three/four/sometimes five times a week so you can only imagine what it is like at that level.

“They have got families and girlfriends and work as well, and they have made a lot of sacrifices over the last nine months. So I haven’t made any contact with them since (the All-Ireland Final) and I don’t intend to until they are ready.

“They need a good clear break to be good for us later on in the year.”

Conor Morrison showed great commitment to come over from Amsterdam 46 times last year but he won’t be playing for St Eunan’s this Autumn.

The club have blooded a number of youngsters who may have a part to play.

“We knew at the start of the year that if we went with the exact same panel as last season it would leave us quite stale.

“We need to bring it to another level if we are going to have any chance of retaining the championship. Padraig (McGettigan) struggled with injury last year but has a good pre-season behind him and got a good bit of football and is playing well.

“Young Philip Doherty has come in and Oisin Scanlon and Luke McGuinness as well.

There are a lot of lads in and around the senior panel that wouldn’t have been there before and that’s all part of their development.

“We are conscious that it is seven years now since St Eunan’s won a minor championship.

“While you are taking one or two through all the time, we want to get as many through to senior football as possible.

“We used the league to get a lot of those guys exposure and we lost a few games along the way and that’s part and parcel of it as well, and they have to learn.

“The vast majority will end up playing reserve and that’s grand but one or two of them might make an impact come the championship.”

Bainisteoir: Barry Meehan

Captain: Conor O’Donnell Snr

Last Year: SFC champions

Star Man: Shane O’Donnell

One to Watch: Fintan Doherty.