Four Masters aiming to retain title

BY MATTHEW WILSON

Four Masters minor manager Emmett Gallagher is hoping his side can get over the line and retain their crown when they face Glenswilly in the Division 1 Minor Final on Monday.

It’s been a solid campaign for the Donegal Town men, reaching the League showpiece before having a consistent run through the Championship to book their spot in the final.

With a number of the Four Masters minor squad being utilised at senior level this term, Gallagher and the minor management used the early part of the year to introduce a few younger members into the squad.

“You’d have to be pleased with the way things have worked out this year, with so many of the boys making that transition into adult football which is the total aim of all of our underage.”

“During the league, we allowed them that space to play with the senior team which allowed us to bring a few of the 2008 lads up into the minor team and give them good game time.”

“That was the team that we continued with right through to the league final where Gaoth Dobhair beat us but overall, it’s been a good campaign with a lot of lads getting game time.”

Conor McCahill, Turlough Carr, Lewis McCaughan, Daniel McGinty, Cian Gavigan and Eoghan O’Neill have all gotten minutes for Barry Dunnion’s senior side this year.

This experience that they gained certainly helped when they made the return back down to minor level and Gallagher praised the leadership that they have shown to the younger members of the squad.

“You look at the calibre of these boys, the likes of Conor McCahill and Turlough Carr, they’re looking into a fourth minor final on Monday along with Daniel McGinty and Lewis McCaughan.”

“That experience that they had this year plus others going up to the senior team, to come back down to the minor level has really raised the standards.”

“They’ve shown fantastic leadership with the younger players to bring them through as well which is great to see from boys that are only 18 years of age.”

Following a good win over Naomh Conaill in the last four, the Donegal Town men now meet Glenswilly in the showpiece this Monday in a repeat of the 2022 final.

The Tir Conaill Park residents will be hoping to retain the crown that they secured 12 months ago and advance to Ulster where they also sealed glory.

However, Gallagher insists that Ulster hasn’t even come into the conversation within the camp as they know the task that lies ahead of them this Monday against the Pairc Naomh Columba residents.

“It’s like every year, the St Paul’s team is full of county champions. We know that we have a huge task ahead of us on Monday.”

“I don’t think it’s something that has even come up in conversation yet because it’s a massive achievement to get to a Donegal minor final.”

“We know from the last couple of years that it goes to the wire, last year there was only a point in it that took us over the line.”

“It would be an incredible achievement to get there and win it again on Monday, some boys would be picking up their fourth medal. Some boys will be picking up their and for others they’ll be in between that.”