Someone must have finally decided to build a wall around all Donegal.
The only thing we can think of is that the Ulster GAA Writers’ Association watched 2018 pass them by with a pair of inter-county glasses on.
And even then, too many holes exist to even come close to explaining the glaring omissions that exist in their nominees for the various end of season awards up north.
2018 was a successful one for Donegal GAA. Back in June, the county’s senior football team defeated Fermanagh to win the blue riband event of the GAA calender, the Ulster senior football final and the ladies did likewise, defeating Monaghan in the equivalent competition.
Then a couple of weeks later, the county’s hurlers went out and won the Nicky Rackard – the third division hurling crown behind the All-Ireland and the Christy Ring.
On to club season and things got even better. Red Hugh’s got the ball rolling in December when they defeated Derry’s Limavady to win the Ulster junior and Gaoth Dobhair got December off to a flyer when they beat Scotstown to win a historic Ulster title – a Donegal club’s first win in that competition since 1975 and to become only the second Donegal club ever to win it.
So, you would expect that the men and women from the Hills would be lording it come the end of year award ceremonies.
That won’t be the case for the Ulster GAA Writers’ Association’s awards, however.
The awards ceremony will take place in February 2019 but with the nomination for the ten awards up for grabs already released, there isn’t a hope of a Donegal club, player or county team coming home with one because they aren’t even listed.
The most glaring of all is surely Gaoth Dobhair’s absence from the Club of the Year list – not only did the Gaeltacht men win the provincial senior this year, they also won the under-21.
Not only that though – Surely Kevin Cassidy’s inspired club run, or Odhran Mac Niallais’ role in both his club’s and county’s Ulster triumphs earns them a nomination for Footballer of the Year.
Donegal based journalist Chris McNulty shared the list in exasperation earlier on.
Donegal teams won Ulster SFC, Ulster Ladies SFC, Nicky Rackard Cup, Ulster Club SFC, Ulster Club JFC – and don’t have one nominee on this pic.twitter.com/J9tbZyMFTz
— Chris McNulty (@ChrisMcNultyDgl) January 13, 2019
Maybe Eamon McGee is right.
https://twitter.com/EamonMcGee/status/1084772800840253440
