DONEGAL GAA is reeling once again as the thorny issue of indiscipline appears to have raised its head with the news that two key players have been booted off the county panel.
The shock development comes ahead of tomorrow evening's first round All Ireland Senior Championship Qualifier with Carlow in Ballybofey. (Throw in 7 p.m.)
Both Ciaran Bonner and Neil Gallagher have been shown the door by manager John Joe Doherty a
fter what has been described as a breach of discipline.
Doherty refused to comment on the matter, other than to confirm that the players had been dropped for a breach of discipline and it was a matter of now moving on and getting a positive response from the rest of the team tomorrow evening.
Both players played against Antrim in the first round Ulster Championship defeat in Ballybofey, and while midfielder Gallagher was struggling with a hamstring injury and rated extremely doubtful for tomorrow’s game, Bonner was expected to be in the team to face Carlow.
This is the second time this season that Bonner has departed the panel. After playing in the Dr. McKenna and the early rounds of the National Football League, he opted out of the panel after being dropped for the Galway game.
He was subsequently recalled by Doherty in the build-up to the Championship and was one of Donegal’s better performers in the one-point defeat to Antrim.
Doherty informed the players of his decision on Tuesday afternoon and they were not at training on Tuesday night.
Meanwhile, Doherty has rung the changes from the side that suffered a humiliating defeat at the hands of Antrim, in the first round of the Ulster Championship. In all Doherty has made five changes from the Antrim game with Frank McGlynn, Christy Toye, Leo McLoone, Stephen Griffin and David Walsh all being called up.
McGlynn comes into a re-shaped defence at corner back with Toye named at midfield and county U21 McLoone joining Griffin and Walsh in a new-look attack.
McLoone takes over from Michael Hegarty at centre half-forward with Walsh replacing Bonner and Griffin named ahead of Colm McFadden. Brendan Boyle was ruled out through injury while Brian Roper is struggling with a groin injury.
Toye and Kevin Cassidy form a new look midfield partnership with Eamonn McGee moving from corner back to centre-half back.
Carlow are definitely without Derek Hayden and Shane Meyers, both who started in their Leinster Championship first round game with Louth, while manager Luke Dempsey is sweating on the fitness of midfielder Willie Minchin.
Donegal - Paul Durcan; Frank McGlynn, Neill McGee, Karl Lacey; Barry Dunnion, Eamonn McGee, Michael Maguire; Christy Toye, Kevin Cassidy; Rory Kavanagh, Leo McLoone, David Walsh; Conall Dunne, Michael Murphy, Stephen Griffin.
