Donegal hurling manager Ardal McDermott has added some new recruits to give his side a fresh, strong look for 2017.
By Chris McNulty, Donegal Sport Hub
Ardal McDermott’s side open their Allianz Hurling League Division 3A campaign on Sunday when they meet Louth at O’Donnell Park (2pm) and, while the Tir Chonaill men have lost some stellar faces, they have added a couple of significant names.
Armagh native Declan Coulter and Tipperary man Davin Flynn have joined the Donegal panel this year and are in line to face the Wee County in Sunday’s League opener.
Coulter was a Nicky Rackard All-Star last year with Armagh. Coulter is a versatile operator who, while named on the Nicky Rackard team in the half-back line, contributed handsomely to the scoreboard on a regular basis.
Coulter is married and living in Donegal now and is teaching in the Killygordon area.
Flynn hails from Roscrea in County Tipperary, but is now working in Letterkenny. Flynn was one of Roscrea’s top marksmen in the Tipperary SHC and will add greatly to the Donegal ranks.
Tyrone native Gerard Gilmore helped Sean MacCumhaills to the Donegal SHC title and he, too, has been called into the Donegal squad by McDermott, although he is facing a five-week injury lay-off.
“They are all top-notch hurlers and will be fine additions,” McDermott told Donegal Sport Hub.
“The people we have brought into the panel are all really hungry fot it and we have a very good squad.
“We’ve been working very hard since pre-season in November. We have good work done now and, although we have a very different team this year, a lot of old faces are still there. A lot has changed for us in the last few months.”
From what would have been considered to be McDermott’s first choice XV in 2016, Donegal will be down several key players this year.
Sean McVeigh is at university in Spain; Mark Callaghan and Ciaran Matthewson are abroad with the Irish Army; Paul Sheridan has retired, but has been retained on the backroom team; Justin McGhee has withdrawn; while Christopher McDermott and Paddy Hannigan have pulled out due to work commitments.
Ronan McDermott is based in England and, while he will be available some weekends, he won’t be in attendance on Sunday, with Bernard Laverty absent because of injury.
Martin McGrath and Stephen Gillespie are on the doubtful list, but the manager is hopeful that the likes of Cathal Doherty, Aidan Stokes, Richard Kee and Colm Melaugh can step forward and stake a claim for places.
McDermott said: “It would be nice to get off to a good start. People expect us to go well in Division 3A after being relegated from 2B, but we aren’t putting ourselves under any pressure. We have a nice morale there and we’ll take it as it comes.”
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