By Harry Walsh
DONEGAL manager John Joe Doherty has been hit with another blow ahead of the 2010 season with confirmation that Gaoth Dobhair's Eamon McGee in on his way to London.
McGee, who played in the Division Two final for his club yesterday afternoon, travels to the English capital today. He is expected to miss the Dr McKenna Cup competition which gets underway in early January together with his brother Neil and and Rory Kavanagh (St Eunan's) who are both in Australia.
Speaking to the Donegal News yesterday, Doherty said he was powerless in stopping players emigrating in search of work.
"in an ideal world all the lads would have jobs but unfortunately that's not the case.
"This problem isn't unique to Donegal. These lads are coming to a stage in their lives where they have to make decisions.
"We would be hoping that we will not be losing players but it is terrible because you can't really do anything about it," he said.
While the Doneal boss will have to plan without the two McGee brothers and Kavanagh, he's still to hear abut the future plans of players like Brian Roper, Michael Hegarty and Barry Monaghan who are all nearing the end of their Inter County careers.
"I haven't spoken to any of the players. We won't be putting a panel together until the middle of December. I will know more about how we're fixed then," he said.
Meanwhile, one Donegal player had cause for celebration when the Quinn Insurance Ulster GAA Writers' Association annual banquet was held in the Sliabh Russell Hotel, Ballyconnell on Saturday night.
Michael Murphy, the 20-year-old Glenswlly full-forward who was outstanding for his county and then helped Ulster lift the inter-pro crown, collected the Young Achiever of the Year award.
In local football, St Eunan's booked their place in the Division One final against Ardara following their win against St Michael's in Convoy on Saturday afternoon.
At the other end of the table Naomh Conaill and Four Masters must meet again next week as part of the relegation play off series.
The teams finished level on nine points each after extra time at MacCumhaill Park yesterday afternoon.
The losers will play Kilcar, who lost out against Dungloe in Convoy on Saturday, with the losers of that game playing Glenswilly in the relegation play-off.
Elsewhere, Gaoth Dobhair won the Division Two title following their two point win over Termon at O'Donnell Park yesterday.
The Division Four final must be replayed as the game between Milford and Moville in Buncrana ended in a draw.
In the other game played yesterday afternoon Naomh Mhuire beat Fanad Gaels by three points to claim the U21B title.
