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Kevin McDonnell is delighted to be back for Sligo

Kevin McDonnell in Allianz Football League Division Three action against Offaly last Monday.

Kevin McDonnell in Allianz Football League Division Three action against Offaly last Monday.

By Cian O’Connell


Sligo manager Cathal Corey was immediately struck by Kevin McDonnell’s courage.

“He is a fantastic fella, to see how hard he works is incredible -his commitment, I have never seen anything like it,” Corey remarked about McDonnell at the start of the Allianz Football League when the Castleconnor clubman was on the comeback trail.

McDonnell hadn’t featured in a competitive fixture between September and February until last month’s Electric Ireland Sigerson Cup semi-final between NUIG and DIT.

Maurice Sheridan’s nifty NUIG advanced before losing to UCD in a thriller, but one of the sub plots was McDonnell’s return following a troublesome hip problem.

“It was the first game I played since last September,” McDonnell says about the victory over DIT. “To get the win that day was great, but unfortunately it didn't work out the next day. We were unlucky, but that is the way it goes, there was only a kick of the ball in it and it was devastating.”

During his time out of action Corey installed McDonnell, 23, as captain.  “It is an honour, at the minute I don't feel so young because we have so many young boys in, but it is a brilliant honour,” McDonnell adds. “It is the highest honour you can get really so I'm delighted and thrilled really.”

“I was a few months out so I'm happy out now at the minute to be back. We have a good physio team so I was well looked after. There was a lot of work done, but so did the other boys and I was happy to do it to get back.”

Sligo were beaten in an epic Connacht Under 21 Final by Galway last year, while Yeats County also contested provincial minor showpieces in 2015 and 2017.

In the Connacht Colleges Senior A Championship a Sligo school has contested eight of the last nine deciders. Reasons for optimism exist according to McDonnell. “Yeah, those boys aren't used to getting beaten too often,” McDonnell says.

“They have the confidence and the bit of arrogance that is needed around the panel, it is great to see them and there is a good buzz around the place.

Kevin McDonell and Con O Callaghan.

Kevin McDonell and Con O Callaghan.

“A lot of the boys that are in now are used to competing at a fairly high level. We've a lot from the Under 21 team that competed in the Connacht Final last year so you have a lot of talented lads being brought through.

“They aren't limiting the squad because they have plenty of experience themselves. It is just a matter of getting a bit of experience at senior level, but they are all going well. It is very good at the minute.”

Those underage improvements provides hope, but McDonnell acknowledges that the time has arrived for Sligo to deliver.

“It is fair to say, the onus is on us to bring that through to the senior ranks by getting a bit of success,” McDonnell admits. “We have been starved of it recently so it is a matter of bringing lads through and hopefully these young fellas will be the start of a new generation.

“We are blessed with the older lads, we have some experience and we have leaders there. It is not just left to the captain because we have a lot of big leaders and big personalities in the panel which is great.”

For now Sligo’s brief is to retain Division Three status with Niall Murphy’s last gasp free against Offaly earning a vital point last Monday.

“Definitely, it is fairly close in the table,” McDonnell states. “A loss there would have put us under a lot of pressure, but it is in our hands so we are happy.”

Ensuring the exciting new talent being integrated into the Sligo panel are operating in Division Three in 2019 is what they crave to do so Sunday’s Markievicz Park clash with Derry is loaded with relevance.

“It is target number one, the way we have left it, especially going forward,” McDonnell accepts about staying in the third tier.

“Being in Division Four would be a step back and we want to be playing at the highest level possible so maintaining our place in Division Three is important for the new generation coming through.”