DONEGAL manager Maxi Curran has said unfinished business from 2020 led him to throwing his hat back into the ring for the new season.
Curran was re-instated by the Donegal Ladies Gaelic Football Association to the manager’s seat for a fourth year earlier this week – in what may have come as a surprise to some after he teamed up with Kevin Cassidy and Joe Duffy at Gaoth Dobhair as a coach for the incoming season.
“I didn’t intend to go back for another year to be honest,” said Curran.
“I suppose you could say there is unfinished business from 2020. We might not have the same personnel but I believe we are strong contenders and those performances against Dublin and Waterford showed that.
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“In the days and weeks after I saw just how close we are and from talking with some players who were keen to give it another go I felt it was all very much still there for us and I wasn’t going to abandon them.”
Just like the GAA, the LGFA have revamped the 2021 season but it is not to Curran’s liking.
The four national league divisions have all been split into two with round one due to be played the weekend of Saturday and Sunday 20th and 21st February with rounds two and three following on successive weekends.
The top two from each section of each league will qualify for the semi-finals scheduled for March 20/21 with the finals down for decision the weekend of April 3-5.
Provincial championships are due to begin the following weekend and completed by May 3 leaving the rest of May until mid-July for club games only, although county training may begin at the start of June.
“It is soul destroying watching the LGFA do what they have done. Everyone lauded the GAA for splitting the men’s season but for the LGFA to do the same it is the worst possible scenario,” said Curran.
Although the league splits are to be formally announced, Donegal, in Division One, will be grouped with Westmeath, Mayo and Galway.
“We will play three league matches, then there is the semi-finals and final.
The Ulster Championship will take place in April and then May and June there will be no county football.
“So for the guts of 12-14 weeks for some counties, there will be inter-county games, that’s crazy in my mind. The clubs say it is too early to play county championship in May and June because of exams and that.
''The way the club championships were played in 2020 was perfect and it worked so well and everyone agreed that they were a success. Why change that?
“Any momentum you gain from playing in your provincial championship you have lost by the time the All-Ireland series begins in the middle of July.”
Curran admits it will be more difficult to play and prepare for the new season but winning the Ulster title is certainly one of the aims.
“2021 you have to look at as two separate seasons – the league and provincial championship and then the All-Ireland championship,” he said.
“There are a number of players who are still considering their options but I feel that the dynamics of the game have changed a lot since I took over and now it is not about having the most talented players and Dublin have shown that.
''I think in terms of talent they are behind Cork and Galway, but now the game is about the athleticism and conditioning of the players and execution of tactics and every county needs to address that.
“We can only start our planning for the first half of the season.
''There is an Ulster championship there to be won. Donegal haven’t lost an Ulster championship game in five years and have a very good recent history in Ulster and we will look to continue that in 2021 and will fight tooth and nail to win it.”
