REGENERATION GAME

McHugh first to take manager plunge – and won't be the last

- BY PAT NOLAN

MARK MCHUGH'S elevation to Westmeath football manager this week meant he was the first of Donegal's All-Ireland crop of 2012 to take on such a role.

However, he's most unlikely to be the last, as 12 of the starting team that beat Mayo in the final 13 years ago this month have already been very active in coaching circles

The Armagh side of 2002 has left, and continues to leave, quite an imprint in management and coaching, but the Donegal team of a decade later is well on the way to forging a similar legacy.

Here's what they've been up to so far.

1. PAUL DURCAN

When Tony McEntee was appointed Sligo manager in late 2020, he recruited Durcan, Aan All Star in 2012 and again in 2014, as his goal keeping coach and selector, a role he held up until 2024.

He has also been involved in the Donegal underage academy.

2. PADDY MCGRATH

The Ardara man retired from Donegal duty in December 2021 with five Ulster titles to go alongside his All-Ireland. He's part of Karl Lacey's Donegal under-16 setup.

3. NEIL MCGEE

It was perhaps inevitable that Jim McGuinness would look to the crop of 2012 when assembling a management team on his return to the Donegal hot seat in late 2023 and it was his unflinching fullback that he turned to.

He has played his part in the team flying back up the football rankings with successive Ulster titles and reaching this year's All-Ireland final.

4. FRANK McGLYNN

A superb player on that 2012 team, McGlynn won an All Star that year and was nominated for footballer of the year.

He finished with Donegal in 2019 and took over as player manager of his club, Glenfin, ahead of the current season.

5. EAMON MCGEE

A valued contributor to these pages since he wound down his Donegal career in 2016, McGee is now following a similar route to a couple of his former teammates.