By Matthew Wilson

Glenswilly manager Gary McDaid is looking forward to the start of the Senior Football Championship this weekend when his youthful outfit take to the field against Naomh Conaill.

The Pairc Naomh Columba residents have enjoyed a decent campaign to date, securing a fourth place finish in Division 1 while managing to blood a lot of young players into the senior ranks.

“We used 31 players in the league this year. We kept rotating and giving people opportunities to see if they were fit for senior football. We’re very young, in a lot of league games this year we had ten under 21s starting. It’s a great bedding in period for them with teams being at a good level but without their county players so they’re not being thrown into the lion’s den.”

The Glenswilly boss stated that there will be a few late fitness tests ahead of their championship opener this weekend. They could be without a couple of players as well as Michael Murphy who’s currently on holidays following the conclusion of the intercounty season.

“We’re carrying a few knocks and niggles and there’ll be a few late assessments. We will be down men and Michael’s on a break at the minute and there’s a few others that the Naomh Conaill game will come too soon for.”

The three-time senior county champions had a brilliant group stage campaign last year, winning all four of their encounters before suffering defeat to eventual finalists Dungloe in the last eight.

Glenswilly’s 2026 championship campaign begins this Saturday when they face Naomh Conaill on home soil before a meeting with Gary Wilson’s Sean MacCumhaills the following weekend.

McDaid expressed that this weekend’s clash with the Glenties men is the only thing on their mind right now, labelling it as a massive opportunity for their young players to test themselves against a side of Naomh Conaill’s calibre.

“It’s a massive opportunity for our kids to go and put their foot on the field with that level of player because they’ve been the dominant force in club football alongside St Eunan’s over the last 20 years. It’s an opportunity that our young fellas are looking forward to and we’re hoping we can be competitive in the game.”

“We’re not even thinking about MacCumhaills yet, it’s going to be another tough one. We had them in the group last year and we’d a real ding dong with them in the Glen and I’m expecting no different this year.”

Bainisteoir: Gary McDaid

Captain: Jack Gallagher

Last Year: SFC Quarter-finalists

Star Man: Michael Murphy

One To Watch: Shane Tinney