THERE is plenty of managing to be done with the county under 20 footballers before a ball is kicked in anger but bainisteoir Gary Boyle is looking forward to the competitive action beginning on Wednesday night at the Scarvey.
Boyle is in his second season in charge and his team will take on Fermanagh with a 7.30pm throw-in.
The Under 20 grade is vital for all counties but there are plenty of challenges.
Boyle has a mixture of players still at secondary school while others are dotted throughout the country at different universities.
The Under 20s have been training with the senior team during the week and then by themselves at the weekends when numbers are stronger.
Jim McGuinness has played five Under 20s for the seniors so far this year – Finnbarr Roarty, Conor McCahill, Turlough Carr, Max Campbell and Kevin Muldoon – while goalkeeper Padraig Mac Giolla Bhride has been Gavin Mulreany’s understudy for the bulk of the season.
Those players have been getting good exposure in the National Football League but Boyle hopes to be able to call upon them in the coming weeks.
“We are happy enough with how things have been going,” said Naomh Muire clubman Boyle.
“It can be tough going on the winter nights at training but when the games are coming, everyone is looking forward to them.
“There’s a lot of managing in the Under 20s. From our players in the seniors to everyone else with different commitments, there’s a lot going on in January and February.
“That focus starts to narrow when you come to March and we’re all looking forward to getting going now.
“The Under 20 Championship is a lot about momentum and building throughout the championship and we will be hoping to get a good start.”
Donegal reached the Ulster Final last year and were beaten in heart-breaking fashion after extra-time by Tyrone.
They sailed through the group phase and then defeated Cavan handsomely in the semi-final but the route does appear more challenging this season.
There are home games against Fermanagh on Wednesday and Antrim on March 28 but they will have to go to Castleblayney on March 25 to face Monaghan and then take on Derry on April 1 at Owenbeg.
“It’s a tough group for us.
“We have Fermanagh first up which we will have to be ready for and then we are away to Monaghan in the second match.
“Monaghan were in the All-Ireland Minor Final three years ago and they have a lot of players that would be well-known in Monaghan and Ulster.
“A lot of people in Monaghan were interested in managing the team. They were queueing up for it to be honest.
“We then play Antrim in Ballyshannon and finishing off against Derry.
“They were double All-Ireland Minor champions and are gelling those two teams together now and they will be very strong.
“I think the Ulster Under 20 Championship will be stronger in general this year.
“Somebody sent me the odds last week and Derry, Tyrone and Monaghan were all ahead of us and Armagh were in an All-Ireland Minor Final as well (in 2024).
“It’s going to be a real challenge but we’re looking forward to seeing how we shape up against these teams.”
Boyle has a strong backroom team consisting of Shay Murrin, Pauric Harvey, Ciaran Sharkey, Malachy McCann, Paddy Clohessy, Aidy Glackin, David Cafferkey, Antoin McFadden, Daniel Devlin, and Darren Curran.
There is a good crossover from last season’s squad when Boyle was happy to rotate his side throughout the group.
“We have 15 of last year’s panel back again this year.
“We have also brought in nine of last year’s minor panel. We had 11 the previous year and it worked very well for us.
“We want to reward the best young players who played well for Barry Ward’s team last year.
“We did it last year and we will continue to do it again.”
There will be a focus on Finnbarr Roarty as an All Star and Young Footballer of the Year and the Naomh Conaill man will be the skipper for the campaign.
“Finnbarr Roarty will be our captain and Callum McCrea (Four Masters) will be our vice-captain.
“They are two very good lads and leaders for the team.
“I think Finnbarr deserves to be captain this season for the Under 20s.
“What he did last year was unbelievable and even the way he has played with the seniors since the start of the year has been brilliant.
“Callum has been a real leader for Four Masters at underage level and we’re seeing it at senior level now too.
“He goes about his business quietly but he’s a quality player.”
Seamus Doogan (Cloughaneely) and Cillian Doyle (Naomh Pádraig, Uisce Chaoin) have been carrying knocks, while the highly-rated Max Campbell is on the mend.
Fermanagh have struggled at minor level in recent years and Donegal have had little trouble when they have faced the Erne county.
However, Boyle isn’t reading much into that and expects a good test from the team managed by former Fermanagh goalkeeper Ronan Gallagher.
“I think it does even out.
“We would have come up against Enniskillen in the MacRory Cup (with Southwest Donegal) and they have some big strong physical players.
“They will be well prepared and the first game is always a bit tricky as well.
“Every team always goes into the championship full of hope and full of energy.
“We went up to Enniskillen in the first game last year and it was very right for a long time.
“We eventually won by seven or eight points but I remember thinking afterwards that it was a lot closer than that.
“They gave us our fill of it that night and I’m sure they will again on Wednesday.”
The Donegal Under 20 squad is as follows: Padraig MacGiolla Bhríde (Gaoth Dobhair), Finnbarr Roarty (Naomh Conaill), Conor McCahill (Four Masters), Turlough Carr (Four Masters), Aaron Neely (Dungloe), Daithí Molloy (Naomh Conaill), Alex Cunnea (Naomh Columba), Cian Gavigan (Four Masters), Cathal Doherty (Letterkenny Gaels), Cathal Ó Gallchóir (Gaoth Dobhair), Tomás Carr (Four Masters), Dylan Mulholland (Buncrana), Liam McGinley (Glenswilly), Darragh Hennigan (Ardara), Danny Brown (Naomh Conaill), Eoghan O’Neill (Four Masters), Seamus Doogan (Cloughaneely), Paidín Shields (Downings), Jamie Gavigan (Sean MacCumhaills), Eoghan Scott (Glenswilly), Colm Ó Dochartaigh (Gaoth Dobhair), Ciarán Cassidy (Termon), Thomas Lenehan (Four Masters), Luke McGuinness (St Eunan’s), Cillian Doyle (Naomh Pádraig, Uisce Chaoin), Luke Clerkin (Dungloe) Donnachadh Ó Baoighill (Cloughaneely), Chris O’Donnell (Dungloe), Seaghan McCormick (Glenfin), Cathal MacAoidh (Gaoth Dobhair), Pauric Devine (Glenswilly), Callum McCrea (Four Masters), Shane Sweeney (Ardara), Lewis McCaughan (Four Masters), Donal Gallagher (Naomh Brid), Kalvin McLaughlin (Carndonagh), Shane Callaghan (Naomh Columba), Kevin Muldoon (Four Masters), Max Campbell (Naomh Conaill), Eoghan Bán MacNelis (Ardara).