Despite the shattering experience of losing the All-Ireland final last September –
followed by the loss of manager Jim McGuinness – there is a sense that Donegal are picking up their new football season not far from where they left off their last.
The feared spate of retirements never came, and although Rory Kavanagh has brought the curtain down on his long career, all those of similar vintage are prepared to carry on. Christy Toye turns 32 in March, and is entering his 14th season with Donegal, yet nothing about the 2014 experience lessoned his desire to go on.
Enduring value
Toye proved his enduring value to Donegal when introduced in that All-Ireland final defeat to Kerry. Even if it wasn’t enough to turn the tide, there was no doubting he was still up to the task. As long as that proves the case, then retirement doesn’t enter the equation.
“I’m really looking forward to it,” said Toye. “If I still feel like I can contribute to the team, I’ll continue to play. Once you realise that you can’t do that, you’ll walk away. Any time you’re handed a Donegal shirt it’s a proud moment.
“It’s a short career as well and a lot of people never get to experience running out in the Donegal colours. I’ve the opportunity to do that. Obviously when you’re a bit older recovery takes a bit longer. And it’s not the most glamorous part of the season. But it’s work that has to be done.”
Whether Toye will feature in the opening league game against Derry on Saturday night remains to be seen, but with Rory Gallagher taking over from McGuinness, any feeling of transition has been kept to a minimum.
“The last few years we set a very high standard in Donegal and we just want to maintain that,” added Toye, speaking at the launch of the new athlete mentors with the Sky Sports Living for Sport initiative. “Every year you try to better yourself. We’ve a tough draw in the championship as well [against Tyrone] so it’ll be a big ask to get to the Ulster final. But we’re looking forward to it and we’ll be aiming throughout the league to get up to championship pace.
“But the thing about Rory coming in is there’s good continuity. There was no messing about in terms of the appointment either. Everyone was back in sync fairly quickly. If it had been left a while, it could’ve become disjointed.
“Rory is his own man with his own standards. We know him well from working with him for three years under Jim but he’s definitely a brilliant manager in his own right. He has a lot of his own ideas. He’s very hungry and demands the best in training, so none of that stuff has changed.”
The immediate priority will be to retain their Division One status, having spent 2014 in Division Two, and Toye also suspects the benefits of the McGuinness era will continue.
Football culture
“Jim took us on when a lot people thought we were also-rans, which was true. He changed the whole football culture in Donegal. We, as players, hadn’t realised the commitment that was necessary until Jim came in. That kind of culture he left behind has filtered down through county underage teams, to all the club teams as well.
“But I would’ve been surprised had he stayed on. Jim stuck to his word that he’d stay four years – the Olympic cycle, as he called it.
“It was a bit of an anti-climax but we still made a lot of progress last year. A lot of people didn’t even think we’d win Ulster, they didn’t even think we’d win the first championship game. So to win Ulster and go all the way to the final, you have to reflect and see it as a progressive season. We couldn’t have given anything more and we’ll do the same this year and see where it takes us.”
