The Donegal Under 20 team have a tricky assignment against Antrim in the Ulster Championship quarter-final in MacCumhaill Park at 7.30pm this evening.
Donegal had a mixed league campaign as they lost to Derry and Sligo but then pulled off a fine win against Mayo.
They won the Leo Murphy Cup last year but it didn’t matter hugely when the knock-out championship started and Tyrone pipped them in the semi-finals.
Seven members of last year’s Under 20 panel – Caolan McColgan, Luke McGlynn, Kealan Dunleavy, Johnny McGroddy, Domhnall Mac Giolla Bhride, Jamie Grant and Kieran Tobin – have all played senior football for Donegal already this year, and team selector Eamon McGee hopes the current crop can push on in the coming years as well.
“McColgan and Johnny McGroddy have got a chance and they are all mad to play for the jersey,” said McGee who is part of Leo McLoone’s backroom team along with Owenie McGarvey and Colm McFadden.
“It was good to see them kick on and try and establish themselves. That jersey is in their grasp now and if they push on and really go at it and live that lifestyle that is required to be an intercounty player, then it won’t be far away from them.
“The pathway is there and it solidifies that thing that we are trying to get onto them.
“Our goal is to make sure that as many from our Under 20 group as possible are ready to play for Donegal at senior level.
“That’s our goal and secondary is to put medals in their back pockets.
“I think if we get the max from 20-25 Donegal players, we won’t be far away from the medal.”
Antrim had a decent league campaign and they will be no pushovers in Ballybofey.
Glenfin star Luke McGlynn has been injured in recent weeks and Donegal will be hoping that he is fit for action.
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