Ulster

Jim McGuinness is to remain Donegal senior football manager for the 2027 season.

It will be his fourth year at the helm during his second stint in charge of the Ulster county.

Meanwhile Mickey McCann will continue to manage the county’s senior hurlers for a further two years, having been in the role since 2018.

Donegal GAA confirmed the news on social media on Monday evening.

“Following a meeting of the County Committee, Donegal 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,” it read.

During his second term in charge, McGuinness has helped guide Donegal to back-to-back Ulster titles in 2024 and 2025 and an All-Ireland final appearance in 2025.

The 53-year-old led Donegal to a Football League Division One final success over Kerry in March this year but the county’s championship season was a disappointing one.

They were defeated by Down in the quarter-finals of the Ulster SFC and went down to Dublin after extra-time in Round 3 of the All-Ireland series.

McGuinness, who led Donegal to the All-Ireland in 2012 in his first spell as manager, initially returned on a three-year-deal with an option of a fourth.

Ulster captain Iain Henderson will miss “several months” of the new season after hip surgery during the summer.

The 34-year-old, who won the last of his 86 Ireland caps against New Zealand in November, missed the end of the northern province’s season through suspension.

A red card against the Stormers in the United Rugby Championship [URC] resulted in a three-game ban that included the Challenge Cup final defeat by Montpellier in Bilbao.

The second row made his Ulster debut in April 2012 and first appeared for Ireland against South Africa in November of the same year.

A two-time tourist with the British and Irish Lions, he was named captain of his province following the retirement of Rory Best in 2019.

Ulster start their URC season at home to Edinburgh on 25 September and Henderson is not head coach Richie Murphy’s sole injury concern.

Bryn Ward (shoulder), Juarno Augustus (ankle), and Jude Postlethwaite (knee) have all also underwent surgeries during the off-season and, according to the province, “are currently undergoing a period of rehabilitation”.