Paudie Kissane: Jim McGuinness return add edge to Cork's league opener in Donegal

COUNTY teams officially returned to training last Friday. This leaves nine weeks to the start of the league at the end of January. 

A good lead-in time for teams to be physically ready. Coaching and player availability will determine where the team is football-wise.

The national leagues have never been so important with league results potentially determining whether you compete for the Sam Maguire or Tailteann Cup.  Still, though many teams will start the league minus a few important players. 

This can be due to extended club campaigns, rehabbing injuries or allowing a player with miles on the clock a later return to competitive season.

Even the top teams Dublin and Kerry took their team holiday in November to ensure they can have an uninterrupted pre-season block. In previous years an All-Ireland finalist had a team holiday in January which then meant a short run in. 

In this scenario, greater risks can be taken with training prescription which can result in more soft tissue injuries. No matter the training age of the player or all the individual running completed, you still need to be smart. 

INTENSE

To combat this risk, inter-county players are expected to complete off-season programs to ensure they are more robust and ready for training intensity at elite level. Players are returning in better shape which can increase the pace. Tactically there will be periods where teams will hold possession resulting in slower passages of play but the intensity is increasing overall. 

This in itself can lead to injury. An example of this would be in the AFL where despite being professional and with excellent support staff and resources the injury count can still be high. Greater demands lead to greater risk.

To help prep teams for the national league, we have the provincial pre-season competitions. Presently 90% of the players feel they should be scrapped 

The inter-county season is condensed, so completing an effective pre-season is paramount. Teams need games to help prepare properly. The problem with is they kick off right after Christmas. In recent years there was the odd game at the end of December. 

It was a case of too much too soon. Plus teams are a bit fed up playing each other. In Ulster, they've the McKenna Cup, league, Ulster championship and Sam Maguire series.

There will always be a team that will benefit from winning a pre-season competition as winning is a habit and builds confidence. Nevertheless, I feel teams should be allowed to arrange their own challenge games in advance of the league starting. This makes it easier to manage the loading while planning the most effective training program. 

Thinking of inter-county season and pre-season preparations, I'm sure many are curious about what is happening in Donegal with the return of Jim McGuinness. This is in contrast to the negativity during Paddy Carr’s ill-fated reign.

You would have to admire McGuinness for taking up the challenge of coaching soccer professionally. It didn’t work out as planned but there are plenty of learnings he will bring back to Donegal. It has probably made him a better coach.

The appetite for Gaelic football was certainly there for McGuinness, as last year he assisted Down. Plus he has offered support to Donegal. He must feel the materials are there to build another successful team.

I am sure McGuinness would not have come back unless everything he required for proper preparation was supported by Donegal GAA. And he will be aware of all the upcoming talent in a football-mad county. 

TRANSFORMATION

Think of his first successful period as manager where he turned an underperforming group into All-Ireland champions in 2012. During his time with Sky Sports, I would always enjoy listening to his analysis of games.  You got a clear sense of his strong communication skills, passion for the game and tactical knowledge.  All-important ingredients in improving players.

The 2012 Donegal model was full of running, combining suffocating defence with devastating counter-attacking.  This gave Donegal the edge back then, but the game has moved on. It will be interesting to see how they will set up for 2024.

Donegal will operate in Division 2. They won the Division 2 league in 2011 which laid the foundation for more success. 

This division is very competitive, but it still allows some breathing space to embed new players and a fresh style. All-Ireland champions Dublin benefited from being in Division 2 this year.

Donegal start their campaign with a home game versus Cork. I look forward to this game but that is another day.