It’s now or never for Gildea
There have been near misses in the past. Two Ray Cosgrove goals denied Donegal a place in the semis last summer. In ’98, it was a late, late Joe Brolly show that denied him an Ulster medal and a place in the semis. After last year, and the fallout from the drawn game, Gildea thought the day would never come. With football in the county in disarray, and his knees in a decrepit state, he announced his retirement.
And he stayed retired well into the spring. Although Donegal finally secured the services of a manager in January, Gildea felt his body had had enough. Like other fine servants from west Donegal, Rambo Gavigan, Anthony Molloy, Noel Hegarty, the latter part of his career has been troubled by knee injuries. Some speculate that the sandy pitches in that part of the country are to blame. Whatever the reason, it doesn’t make it any easier for Gildea.
