Manager Jim McGuinness says Donegal are shaping up nicely for the 2012 season.

As the Ulster champions prepare to open their competitive year with Sunday's Dr McKenna Cup clash with UUJ at Ballybofey, McGuinness confirmed to the Irish News that everything was on course in the Tir Chonail camp:

"We're definitely starting from a much better base this year. It's a good opportunity to prepare properly for the national football league.

"We'll have a stronger McKenna Cup squad this time around than we had last year, no question.

"There are a couple of new faces in there also and this competition will give us the chance to look at them and what they can offer.

"If we can push on through January to April in particular and get as much work done as possible both in the gym and on the pitch, that should set us up for a year or two of championship football.

"The next four or five months is very important from that point of view.

"We'd be happy that we got through a huge amount of work last year in terms of fitness and the strength side of things.

"Hopefully, during the festive season the boys looked after themselves and when they do come back they'll be ready to go." Tweet

Most Read Stories