BY FRANK CRAIG

St Michael’s have a new manager at the helm in Gary O’Neill as the Dunfanaghy/Creeslough men along with Milford open the All-County League season today at the Bridge (throw-in, 3pm).

Tyrone native O’Neill, a brother of Red Hand legend Stephen O’Neill, is a Clann na nGael clubman. He tells the Donegal News that he’s been really impressed with the quality and the application of his new squad since he’s come on board.

With the rest of the county’s clubs not out until next weekend, there will be plenty of interested eyes looking the direction of this encounter to see what exactly Michael’s will offer under their new direction.

He said: “We’ve had a couple of wee challenges. We’ve played the likes of Glenswilly, Owen Roes and Banagher last Sunday. I’m still getting to know all the players, the team. I’m just looking forward now to the first game.

“We’re at home too so that’s a wee boost. We’ll have a home crowd behind us. Everyone is really looking forward to the weekend.”

St Michael’s didn’t find a successor to Michael Kelly until early February. However, they’ve had an accelerated two months on the training field since. O’Neill hopes that, and the sourcing of some quality opposition for challenge encounters, will have primed his team ahead of the new campaign.

“We didn’t start training until that little bit later,” he added. “We’ve now almost two months under our belts. People might think we’re a wee bit behind fitness wise. But I think the lads have pushed hard so hopefully there isn’t as much catch up as there might have been.

“From what I’ve seen of them, they’re hard working and a really honest group. I’m just hoping we can get the whole thing off to a good start now as the games start to roll out on Sunday.”

St Michael’s are indeed one of the real conundrums in Donegal club football. Their quality has never been doubted but harnessing that potential and realising the ultimate ambition of landing the Dr Maguire Cup has just never materialised.

The distraction of county football has been absent now for some time for the club’s most famous pair, Colm McFadden and Christy Toye. But with both Martin McElhinney and Mark Anthony McGinley choosing to step away from Declan Bonner’s Donegal in recent weeks; all of a sudden St Michael’s have little or no distraction on that front.

Michael Langan is now the only club member part of the senior inter county football squad. For the new boss, there are plenty of broad shoulders to lean on if needs be.

He said: “They’ve a lot of experience and quality. I suppose the question is why haven’t they been getting over the line. It’s something we’ve all talked about since I’ve come in. Something has been missing. I want to see can I change that.

“I think I know what can help but, of course, putting it all into practice is what is really key. The quality and ability is certainly there. We’ll look at other things that hopefully allow them all to put their best foot forward.

“Of course, championship is what you’re judged on. But we’ve 18 league games before we can even start thinking about that. Ideally, we’ll show what we’re about in the league and eventually approach the championship in a good place.

“It’s grand to have those lads and players leaving Donegal squads to come back in,” he said on now also having Martin McElhinney and Mark Anthony McGinley’s complete and undivided attention. “But at the same time every other club is sitting looking at us and going ‘they’ve got the boys back now all to themselves’. It heightens expectations maybe.

“It does give us that experience and those weighted voices around the dressing room with the likes of McFadden, Toye, McElhinney and Mark Anthony. It does help the squad. But Milford will be travelling now knowing that we’re at our strongest.

“No-one will be underestimating us. No-one will be saying ‘sure they are missing their county players’. So there is a different kind of pressure on us now to really show up for every single game. That’s the challenge for this group. We’re going to know exactly where we’re at and other clubs will too.”

Last weekend, O’Neill listened in as his players were placed in the same Donegal Club SFC pot as St. Eunan’s, Gaoth Dobhair and Ardara. All three of those clubs know exactly what it feels like to lift the Dr Maguire Cup.

The boss admits that the draw wasn’t kind but adds that championship won’t come onto his radar for a while yet.

“It’s a very difficult section. We certainly won’t be favourites. But at the same time it’s a challenge for us to get up for, to ready ourselves for. We spoke very quickly about the championship. We know what group we’re in. But we won’t be sitting and studying it for a while yet.

“All we are focusing on at the moment is that first game against Milford.”