Neil McGee retired from inter-county football at the end of the 2022 season with a record 195 appearances for the team, announcing his decision, shortly before his 37th birthday, in an exclusive interview given to Frank Craig and published in the Donegal News on 29 September 2022.
[1][2][3] Paddy Carr was announced as manager on 24 October, succeeding Declan Bonner, with Aidan O'Rourke joining as head coach at the same time.
[10] The Irish Times stated: "For new manager Paddy Carr it is as bad a start as one can imagine, like picking up a Porsche only to discover it comes without an engine or a steering wheel".
[18] Kane Barrett, Domhnall Mac Giolla Bhride, Luke McGlynn, Johnny McGroddy, Jack McSharry, John Ross Molloy, Brian O'Donnell, Hugh O'Donnell and Joel Bradley Walsh all made their senior inter-county debuts against Down, while Gavin Mulreany was named as starting goalkeeper for the game against Monaghan, which also saw the first inclusions in the panel of such players as Philip Doherty (Naomh Columba), Kealan Dunleavy (Glenswilly) and Kieran Tobin (St Eunan's).
[21][22] Despite this, Donegal defeated Kerry, in a game when Caolan McColgan kicked three points on his debut and was named man-of-the-match.
[23] Hugh McFadden made his 101st appearance for Donegal against Monaghan in the 2023 National Football League, when he also captained the team; Eoghan Bán Gallagher, Oisín Gallen and Michael Langan started for the first time in 2023, replacing Jamie Grant, Johnny McGroddy and Patrick McBrearty, while Peadar Mogan and Rory O'Donnell were listed among the substitutes.
Kieran Tobin, Kealan Dunleavy, Joel Bradley Walsh and Brian O'Donnell made substitute appearances.
[27] Goalkeeper Gavin Mulreany made his senior championship debut for Donegal as a substitute against Tyrone in the All-Ireland SFC preliminary quarter-final, as a result of Shaun Patton losing his discipline and being issued with a red card after he kicked a Tyrone player.