BY RYAN FERRY
DONEGAL minor captain Jordi Gribben says his team will have to bring a ‘big effort’ if they are to see off Tyrone in the Ulster Minor Championship in Fr Tierney Park today at 12pm.
Tyrone traditionally are always very competitive at minor level.
Donegal defeated the Red Hands in the league last season but you have to go back to 2015 since the county got the better of their neighbours in the championship.
Tyrone didn’t have a fantastic Ulster Minor League campaign this season and were beaten by Armagh in the Shield Final.
However, they made a winning start to their championship by beating Down by three points last week,
Donegal lost to Down in the Ulster Minor League semi-final so that’s a good gauge of what they are up against this week.
Barry Ward’s Donegal eased past Fermanagh last Saturday but this weekend’s match will be a much stiffer assignment.
“We know what Tyrone will bring to the table,” said Gribben.
“We have to try and match that and that’s exactly what we are going to do.
“If they can beat Down then they are obviously a good team so we are going to have to put in a big effort.
“It’s in Ballybofey too so we will try to make the most of that.”
Gribben was a key member of the Donegal minor side in 2023, and with that experience banked, he was bestowed with the captaincy.
“I played full-back last year and it’s always your ambition to be captain of your county.
“It’s an honour to captain such a great bunch of lads.
“They are digging away at training and taking lumps out of each other, and it’s excellent to see the improvements that the team have made over the last couple of weeks.”
Last Saturday was a remarkable day for the Gaoth Dobhair club as they had six starters for the county minors against Fermnagh.
Padraig McBride was in goal, while Gribben and Cathal McGee were in the full-back line.
Dallan Ó Baoill and Cathal Ó Gallachóir were in the half-back line while Colm Ó Dochartaigh lined out at number 12.
Such a strong representation is testament to the hard work that has gone in over the years at the Magheragallon club.
“Six men starting is brilliant and just shows how good our underage has been.
“I have grown up with those five boys and it’s just an honour to share the field with them in a Donegal jersey.
“We have had a few different coaches down through the years. You have Hugo Diver and my father Paul coached us before, and we have had different people help us out.
“I suppose Neil McGee would be taking some credit after last year but it’s a joint effort. Credit to them all.”
With six county minors Gaoth Dobhair will be eyeing up the Donegal minor title later this season but will have to see off reigning Ulster champions Four Masters to do so.
Gribben says the rest of the Gaoth Dobhair minors are training hard and they should be a formidable side come the championship.
“They just have to keep tipping away.
“They are a great bunch of lads. They have got off to a decent enough start in the league and they are just trying to develop and when we get to Under 20s, I would love to see some more boys from Gaoth Dobhair up with the county.”
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