McGuinness reappointed in Donegal

Donegal manager Jim McGuinness ©INPHO/James Lawlor

Jim McGuinness has been ratified as Donegal senior football manager for another season.

The 2012 All-Ireland SFC winning manager has taken up the option of serving a fourth year in what is his second spell in charge of the Tir Chonaill men. Donegal have also confirmed Michael McCann's reappointment as senior hurling manager, with a county board statement on Monday night reading: "Following a meeting of the County Committee, CLG Dhún na nGall confirm the appointment of Michael McCann as senior hurling manager for a two-year term and Jim McGuinness as senior football manager for a one-year term.”

McGuinness served four years during his previous tenure from 2011 to '14, during which he won three Ulster SFC titles and the Sam Maguire. He stepped down after Donegal lost the 2014 All-Ireland final to Kerry, only to return again a decade later.

Since then, the Glenties man has led the the green and golds to two more Ulster SFC titles and an All-Ireland final appearance against Kerry last year. They avenged that defeat with big wins over the Kingdom in this year's Allianz League final and in Round 1 of the All-Ireland SFC.

The latter win came after a shock Ulster SFC quarter-final loss at home to Down, while further defeats to Cork and Dublin put them out of All-Ireland contention.

McGuinness is expected to make changes to his backroom team ahead of the new campaign.