CIARÁN BONNER is set to end his Donegal exile with the Glenswilly man included in the 30-man panel for the McKenna Cup named by new manager John Joe Doherty.
Bonner quit intercounty football last April after Donegal's National League game against Laois having had a difference of opinion with former manager Brian McIver and he spent the summer playing with Donegal Boston.
Bonner had intended taking a year out to travel but with the appointment of Doherty, the player answered the call and is once again ready to don the green and gold for 2009.
Ardara man Brendan Boyle, who has missed the best part of the last two years with a back injury, is also recalled, while Stephen McDermott of Glenfin is back having missed this year's championship.
Rory Kavanagh will be the team captain for the McKenna Cup, at least, with last year's captain Kevin Cassidy unavailable for the competition, which begins with a home game against UUJ in Ballybofey on Sunday fortnight.
Injury also deprives Doherty of the services of Colm McFadden, Michael Hegarty, Brendan Devenney, Barry Dunnion and Michael Murphy while Karl Lacey has taken time out to go travelling.
Elsewhere Dublin midfielder Eamon Fennell is poised to join All-Ireland club football champions St Vincent's from O'Toole's.
Fennell, who was previously linked with a move to Ballymun Kickhams, lodged his transfer application with the Dublin County Board ahead of yesterday's closing date. O'Toole's have until January 9th to object to the move.
Meanwhile, team-mates of Michael Quinn's at AFL club Essendon are impressed by the Longford teenager's skills, with the coach who helped develop Martin Clarke's game claiming his new charge is superior to the Down youngster (and current Collingwood playmaker) when he first came over, when it comes to kicking the oval ball.
Clarke's former mentor, Alan Richardson, has been appointed Essendon's assistant coach.
Essendon manager Adrian Dodoro said: "Having 'Richo' here to help Michael will help fast-track his development . . . Alan said his (Quinn's) kicking is a little bit more advanced than Martin's was when he first got to Collingwood so that's a good start."
DONEGAL SF PANEL (Dr McKenna Cup): Ciaran Bonner, Michael Boyle, Brendan Boyle, Ryan Bradley, Charlie Byrne, Michael Doherty, Odhran Doherty, Conall Dunne, Paul Durcan, Neil Gallagher, Johnny Gallagher, Stephen Griffin, Rory Kavanagh, Damian McClafferty, Paddy McDaid, Stephen McDermott, Neil McGee, Eamon McGee, Frank McGlynn, Shane McGowan, Leo McLoone, Kevin McMenamin, Barry Monaghan, Kevin Rafferty, Brian Roper, Leon Thompson, Christy Toye, David Walsh, Declan Walsh, Ross Wherity.
