Former Republic of Ireland star Shay Given will be offering his experience and advice, when he attends Donegal’s training session in Ballybofey tonight.
Shay Given will be on hand, to offer his experience to the Donegal senior team when he attends their training session in Ballybofey tonight.
The Aston Villa shot-stopper has been invited to attend the training session, at the request of Donegal boss Jim McGuinness.
Given, 38, is currently on holidays back home in Lifford, he will return to Birmingham next month for pre-season training with Aston Villa.
Given was an interested spectator at the Ulster SFC quarter-final between Donegal and Celtic Park last Sunday afternoon, and took to twitter to express his delight at the victory.
Given posted a picture of the scoreboard at the final whistle, and told his followers “Great win, well done Donegal.”
Given and McGuinness have met several times before and have struck up a good rapport with each other.
Given said, “I have spoken to Jim McGuinness a few times and he wanted me to go up training this week, so I think I will go tonight.
“I’ll not really to do any coaching or hard work with the Donegal keepers, it’s really just a case of mingling with the players, having a chat and seeing if there is anything I can help with.
“They’re training tonight in MacCumhaill Park and Jim has asked me to go, so hopefully it will happen.
“I am quite good friends with Pat Shovelin, the goalkeeping coach, so I have an idea of what’s going on in the Donegal squad.
Given expressed his admiration for McGuinness, who has delivered two Ulster SFC titles and an All-Ireland title with a county that was starved of success before he took over in 2011.
“What Jim has done with Donegal is only phenomenal and it was great to be there at the Derry game on Sunday.
“Jim gave the players a great team talk as they came out for the second half all fired up and won the game well, a great start to the Championship.
“Jim has had some stick from certain quarters, especially in parts of the media, but what he has done for Gaelic in Donegal is exceptional, stressed Given.
“The fitness levels, the commitment, the way the players look after themselves off the pitch, the way they can play different systems, so much of that is down to Jim and coaches across the country are looking up to him.
Second choice Donegal goalkeeper Michael Boyle played Senior football with Finn Harps a few years back, while current Donegal U21 goalkeeper Joe Coll is a former Manchester United trainee.
