Besieged Donegal now in need of 'shape and structure'

A cloud has been hanging over Donegal football this past while. If a weather report was to follow, it would be described as a 'nimbostratus', with heavy rain and much gloom the outcome.

Shortly after the county exited last year's championship at the hands of Armagh, the talismanic Michael Murphy called time on what was a stellar inter-county career. A 16-year sojourn in the green and gold, the highlight being that All-Ireland win in 2012.

Manager Declan Bonner also decided it was time to move on. A new era of sorts was about to begin and with Karl Lacey heading up an academy that had many admirers, Donegal folk had reasons to be optimistic about the future.

But then came the long, drawn-out process to find Bonner's successor.

Lacey, Rory Kavanagh and Jim McGuinness was a 'dream ticket' that never came to pass. The truth is the trio never went for the job.

Close to 100 days after the loss to Armagh, Paddy Carr was the chosen one. In time, Armagh's Aidan O'Rourke and Derry native Paddy Bradley would join the management set-up.

When competitive action returned, Patrick McBrearty stepped up at the death to kick the winning point against Kerry in the opening round of the league. Something to celebrate, yet the only thing to celebrate.

An Ulster title win in 2019 was the last time Donegal fans could really enjoy the thrill. A year later, despite being warm favourites, they couldn't contain Cavan's late surge and were dethroned. 2021 and '22 had fleeting moments to savour. So far in 2023, Donegal have been enmeshed in a whirlwind of negativity.

At the start of February, McBrearty got injured against Tyrone. The hope is he'll be back for the All-Ireland round-robin phase. Shane O'Donnell, Niall O’Donnell, Aaron Doherty and the injured