Can anyone challenge Naomh Conaill and win the Dr Maguire Cup?

The race for the Dr Maguire Cup begins on Saturday when referee Mark Dorrian throws in the ball in O’Donnell Park, Letterkenny at 4.30 where the locals take on Kilcar. 

It is one of the big ticket games of the opening round which take place over Saturday and Sunday - four on Saturday evening and four on Sunday. 

The Dr Maguire Cup holders, Naomh Conaill, have a trip to Falcarragh on Saturday evening and that should be a comfortable introduction, but then you never know in the championship. 

Over the last few years, all the talk has been about the top four in the Donegal senior championship - Naomh Conaill, St Eunan’s, Kilcar, and Gaoth Dobhair. 

However, the reality in the lead into the 2024 edition is that two teams - Naomh Conaill and St Eunan’s - are out in front and don’t seem to be likely to stumble any time soon. 

The Davy Brennan-based Naomh Conaill just seem to be able to meet any challenge that comes their way and with news that Ethan O’Donnell and Eunan Doherty are back for the championship from their travels as well as the elevation of young stars like Finbarr Roarty and Tiarnan Ward, there is no doubt that they will be in the mix. Manager Martin Regan seems to have them ready for any challenge and winning the league without a host of county players is fair warning that there has been no slippage from last year. 

St Eunan’s, under new manager Barry Meehan, seemed to put less emphasis on the league, finishing third. The Letterkenny side has the talent to take on any side in the county but they will have to show up and maybe be a little more attacking than in recent years. 

There will be plenty of interest in the second-round clash between Naomh Conaill and St Eunan’s in Glenties on Sunday week, but with four rounds of games, that contest will only amount to shadow boxing. You would expect that if these two sides avoid each other in the knock-out stages, they could well contest the county final once more. 

Can Kilcar get back to the level of a few years ago? They have enough talent and scoring power but they probably lack the all-round panel. They are likely to be thereabouts for the semi-final. Gaoth Dobhair slipped a little in recent years and it is hard to see them bridging the gap. 

The other interesting aspect of the senior championship will be to see if MacCumhaill’s can continue their evolution. They were very competitive in the league and the return of Oisin Gallen will make them the team to watch. Glenswilly, although having a poor league run, are also to be watched. 

But outside of that, it is difficult to see any team making a serious challenge. The youthful Four Masters will be watched to see if they can take a step forward but it may be a season or two yet before their young talent emerges at senior level. 

But while it looks like a two-horse race, we can all dream of being in MacCumhaill Park on county final day in early October.