BY RYAN FERRY
DAN Donnelly knows the end of the chapter is nearby but he doesn’t want the conclusion to come just yet.
Donnelly is captain of the Sean MacCumhaills Under 18 hurlers and they have had a great week of celebrations after winning the Ulster Minor Shield last Sunday.
Now they enter the main competition with the big guns from Down, Antrim, and Derry.
Little will be expected of them against the cream of the crop from the province, but then you have to consider how they have already defied the odds in Ballinascreen.
There have been tough lessons in the Ulster Minor Hurling Shield in recent years and they lost to Dungannon in the final last season, when Donnelly was only fit to play a bit-part role.
They have had their injury problems as well this term but there has also been a realisation that Donnelly and the older players on the panel are coming to the end of their juvenile hurling.
And they played their Ulster Minor Shield Final against Éire Óg like a team who just wouldn’t be beaten.
That sets up a semi-final with Ballygalget this Sunday at 12pm, and Donnelly hopes the good times can continue until after Christmas.
“That was an unbelievable victory (last week), it was a long time coming,” said Donnelly, who wore number 11 but dropped back into his defence and controlled a lot of the play.
“This is our third year in it. There was a lot of hurt for the last three years at it and we definitely gave it our all this time.
“I was injured last year. I was battling away with injuries and of course this year, my best friend and our captain (Jacob Malone) got injured as well which meant our chances were very low but we made sure to get past it because we definitely didn’t want to end our season like that, it’s our last minor season. That’s the best way to put it.”
Jamesie Donnelly’s young team have been cleaning up at underage level but they wanted to make a mark in Ulster.
A shoulder injury picked up by Malone threatened to derail their plans, but instead it provided another source of motivation.
“To be honest I didn’t really know he got injured until he sent me a picture of him in the hospital with his shoulder.
“This was maybe three weeks out and we just knew then that his chances were very low but we dug deep and we did it for him (on Sunday), as James said “we’re doing it for us but also for him.”
Tyrone champions tend to be strong at Ulster Shield level and a few of the Éire Óg players will tog out in the All-Ireland Intermediate semi-final with Tooreen this Sunday.
The Carrickmore side had an edge in terms of strength and physicality but MacCumhaills defended courageously and they had a corner-forward in Dylan Patton, who was really on his game up top.
Donnelly said: “We had to dig very deep. That was a really tough game, mentally and physically. The wind was also a massive factor. Éire Óg are a very good team. Massive respect for them.
“We were pushing to try to win it this year and finally we got over the line.
“Dylan was very good, his frees were exceptional. The boys were working like pure dogs. It’s just unreal.”
Donnelly and Malone have already been called up to the Donegal senior hurling panel.
Mickey McCann is keen to get the young duo involved and while Malone is working his way back to fitness, both could feature in the National Hurling League.
It’s a busy schedule at the minute for Donnelly (18), who is doing his Leaving Cert at St Columba’s, Stranorlar but he’s taking it all in his stride.
“I’m training with them (senior panel) anyway, that’s all I know, but just training. It’s going good. You can tell the level anyways – high levels.
“I would have played with the 20s either way but it’s a nice call to get that you’re going to go up and train with the seniors. It’s a privilege.
“Mickey has been great so far with me.”
MacCumhaills have played two games in Ballinascreen already and that might give them an edge against Ballygalget.
That said, Ballygalget defeated Bredagh by 3-15 to 0-16 in the Down Final.
The winners will take on either Kevin Lynch’s (Derry) or Cushendall (Antrim), and it would be a brilliant feat if Donnelly and his teammates could pull off another upset.
“It’s the Down champions we’re playing. They’ll be a tough team.
“The Shield was the main factor but we’ll give this cup a good rattle as well. It’s great to get the experience.”
