The team entered the season looking to improve on their poor 2013 run and return to prominence for the first time since winning Sam Maguire MMXII.
Pioneer of the game's revolutionary tactic The System,[1] he entered the season with two Ulster titles (2011, 2012), and added a third this season,[2] before becoming the first manager in team history to lead his team to two All-Ireland Finals.
[3][4] Manager Jim McGuinness installed a new backroom team, consisting of Damian Diver, Paul McGonigle and John Duffy.
[5][6] Hugh McFadden joined the panel after manager McGuinness noticed him during the 2013 Donegal Senior Football Championship.
A team managed by Declan Bonner, and including Eoghan Bán Gallagher, Jamie Brennan, John Campbell, Michael Carroll, Lorcan Connor, Ciaran Diver, Kieran Gillespie, Stephen McBrearty, Andrew McClean, Tony McClenaghan, Caolan McGonagle, Stephen McMenamin, Cian Mulligan and Ethan O'Donnell, advanced to the 2014 All-Ireland Minor Football Championship final on 21 September.