Conroy: no Quinn fears for decider

The Marino team's most experienced starter hobbled off in the closing moments of the All-Ireland champions' semi-final victory over Ballyboden St Enda's last Saturday evening at the Donnycarney venue and appeared to be in some discomfort.

However, Quinn - who scored a hat-trick in Vincent's win over Templeogue/Synge Street in the quarter-final - joined the rest of the squad for a recovery session afterwards and Conroy said the injury was nothing more severe than "a kick in the shin".

"There was only a couple of minutes left," Conroy explained.

"He was grand. It was purely precautionary that we got him out of there, to save him for the next day."

"It was a tough, physical encounter," he added. "Everybody was sore after the game but look, I'm sure in a few days, they'll be grand.

"We've been relatively lucky that fellas have stayed injury-free."

Indeed Vincent's have found themselves in the privileged and somewhat surprising position of being able to name the same 15 players as those which started the All-Ireland club final on St Patrick's Day when they beat Castlebar Mitchels, the club's second national crown in six years.

successes

Of that squad, only midfielder Nathan Mullins is out for next Monday when they take on St Oliver Plunkett's/ER in what will provide either the Navan Road club's first county title or Vincent's first back-to-back successes since 1977.

Mullins, who came off the bench on St Patrick's Day, broke a bone in his foot in training prior to the county quarter-final.

Meanwhile, Donegal star Odhrán Mac Niallias says Rory Gallagher is an ideal fit to replace Jim McGuinness.

"He's spent three or four years under Jim," said the Gaoth Dobhair man.

"Sure what more do you need to manage inter-county than get that experience off Jim McGuinness? Rory has plenty of experience.

"He knows the game so well. It's unbelievable, last year when we were preparing for games, some of the stuff he'd come out with, you wouldn't even think of yourself and you're playing.

"So definitely he's well capable of it."

Thus far, the Donegal board has opted not to make public the list of candidates, although Gallagher officially became part of he process last Friday lunchtime when nominated by Kilcar.

Former Kilmacud Crokes All-Ireland club winning boss Paddy Carr has also had his name put forward, as have Cathal Corey and Anthony Harkin.

The Donegal executive will begin the interview process this week but Gallagher remains the outstanding candidate.

"He's a top man. His knowledge of the game is right up there, it's unbelievable," said Mac Niallais.

"He's definitely capable of managing inter-county.

"He's definitely capable. I'd be happy enough to play for him."