DONEGAL’S ALLSTAR WINNING goalkeeper Paul Durcan’s inter county future is in doubt as he gets set to move to Qatar in the coming weeks.
It’s understood that Durcan is moving to Doha, the capital of the Middle East country, where his wife is set to take up a teaching position.
Durcan was between the posts last Saturday when Donegal’s 2015 campaign came to an end as they suffered a quarter-final loss to Mayo in Croke Park.
It is still unclear whether Durcan will return to the fold in time for Donegal’s 2016 campaign.
An All-Ireland winner in 2012, Durcan has established himself as one of the top keepers in the country and claimed Allstar awards in 2012 and 2014.
The 31 year-old moved earlier this year from his native Four Masters club to Ballyboden St-Enda’s in Dublin, where he works and lives.
Durcan is a cousin of current Ballyboden defender Robert McDaid, a member of the Dublin U21 team that won the All-Ireland final last year.
There is speculation over the future of several Donegal players, as to whether they will be back in action for the 2016 season.
Donegal have enjoyed a brilliant run of success in contesting the last five Ulster finals as well as the 2012 and 2014 All-Ireland deciders.
All-Ireland glory arrived in 2012 while Donegal triumphed in Ulster in 2011, 2012 and 2014. But some of those leading figures may not opt to bow out and followed the lead of Rory Kavanagh, who was a high-profile retirement last winter.
Christy Toye’s 33rd birthday will be next March while Neil Gallagher and Colm McFadden will both turn 33 next May. Panellist David Walsh turns 33 this week.
Elsewhere Karl Lacey is 32 next month and Eamonn McGee turns 32 next April.
Having featured in intensive campaigns in recent years, the make up of Donegal’s campaign before the start of the 2016 season is unclear.
T’would be quite the commute alright
Maybe they could give him petrol money :^)
With that beard hell fit in well over there
and with an all Ireland medal in his back pocket he can be happy out.
Paul Dunne you are rude!! >:(
terrible for the goal over his head on Saturday and cost his team in last year’s final thank God.
Ah Paul would you ever f##k off
was he not for both incidents joe?
No goalkeeper in the country would have saved that goal. Go away and stop trolling every donegal article.
I wasn’t ignoring that mis kick last year. There’s no denying the mis kick in the final last year helped cost donegal the all Ireland but how can you say he made the mistake for Saturdays 2nd goal?
Tell ya what he was really poor against Dublin in the semi-final last year too when he conced-oh.
he didn’t concede in the semi before that and lost but sure that the way it goes
It just says a lot about your obsession with all things Ulster that you can’t resist having a dig at a guy who’s given everything to his county over his footballing career. You just come across as insanely bitter to be honest Paul
Jesus man just go away
no dig Conor the best of luck to him I never said he wasn’t a decent keeper he was, just pointing out he made two terrible mistakes (thankfully) in big games is all. you call me bitter when while having a pop at Dublin.
according to the article he is Paul.
Wasn’t a pop at Dublin, it was a pop at you. I’ve nothing to be bitter about with Dublin, some great battles over the years and always enjoy the matches, I’ve great respect for Dublin GAA and don’t let fans with chips on their shoulders cloud my judgement.
no chip Conor i just hate the way Mickie harte and then mcguinness destroyed Gaelic football
Good luck to him if he goes, nothing owed to anyone. Deservedly has an All-Ireland and an All-Star award but his recent performances haven’t been up to his best standards, this move will open up the chance for other goalkeepers in Donegal to show their abilities.
Oryx na hEireann will have him