The new All-County Football League starts this weekend – and it will be all change on the Donegal football sidelines.
By Chris McNulty, Donegal Sport Hub
A total of 29 new managers will be patrolling the pitches this year in Donegal across the 39 football clubs – meaning 74.3 per cent of the clubs are under new bosses in 2017.
Just ten clubs have retained their managers from 2016. Of those, only Sean McBrearty of Letterkenny Gaels – the longest serving now in his fifth year – and Martin Regan at Naomh Conaill – who is in his third year – are beyond the second year of their tenures.
Some of the ‘new’ managers aren’t exactly novices in the game, though.
Francie Martin has taken over at Bundoran having previously worked at Glenswilly, Glenfin and Naomh Colmcille, while Stephen Friel is the new man in Sean MacCumhaills and lists Naomh Colmcille and the Donegal minors on his CV.
Dessie McFeely is back for a third time as the Robert Emmets manager, Paddy J McGinley is in for another stint at Naomh Columba, Adrian Brennan has been in the Ardara hotseat previously, while John McNulty takes the experience from Kilcar and, most recently, the Donegal Masters, to his new post in St Naul’s.
Two clubs – Carndonagh and Pettigo – have yet to appoint a manager for 2017.
CLICK HERE TO SEE DONEGAL SPORT HUB’S FEATURE ON THE CHANGING OF THE GUARD ACROSS DONEGAL FOOTBALL
