McEniff takes Donegal manager’s job for sixth time

BRIAN McENIFF accepted the invitation to become Donegal manager for the sixth time, reluctantly, after the county board suffered eight rejections.

McEniff, the man who led Donegal to its only All-Ireland a decade ago, became county chairman at last month’s convention, and made no secret that Martin McHugh, his on-field lieutenant during Donegal’s glory years, was his preferred choice for the job. “I made several approaches to Martin, but it just wasn’t to be,” McEniff said yesterday. The Bundoran man only agreed to become manager after a lengthy team meeting last weekend. “I explained the situation to them fully and I wasn’t going to impose myself on them at that meeting. They then approached me to take on the job and I have accepted.

“I had been asked to take over by county secretary Noreen Doherty and treasurer Charlie O’Donnell before Christmas. But, before that, we had approached a number of individuals from both inside and outside the county.” For most of the autumn, replacing Mickey Moran and John Morrison looked like the job nobody wanted. Micheal Oliver McIntyre, a valued member of Moran’s back-room staff, emerged as favourite towards the end of November, but then withdrew his nomination.

“Michael Oliver McIntyre seemed like he was going to take the job and then he withdrew. I know it’s a tremendous challenge and there’s a lot of work to be done. Some people will say I have nothing left to prove, but I think this team has a lot of potential.”

Donegal had their best summer in a decade last year, serving up the classic football game of the season in their drawn All-Ireland quarter-final encounter with Dublin. However, they looked a different team in losing the replay, after which Mickey Moran resigned amid rumours of player

misbehaviour following the draw.

McEniff, whose selectors won’t be announced until the next county board meeting on January 20, says he is looking at people from both within and outside Donegal to make up his possible back-room team. When he led Donegal to success in 1992, Anthony Harkin was his coach, while Mickey Lafferty served as his assistant. Despite the fact that so many people turned down the job, McEniff still saw enough promise in Donegal’s summer last year to convince him the team are going places. He is currently working with a training panel of 34, and Donegal play a challenge game against Monaghan in Scotstown on Saturday, before jetting off to the Canaries for a week. McEniff has also recalled some established Donegal players, including Martin Coll, who has been sorely missed for the past couple of seasons, Eamon Reddin and James Ruane. He has also brought in younger talent like Michael Gurn, Eamon Sweeney and Johnny McLoone.