Gaoth Dobhair U21s gear up for Four Masters challenge

BY RYAN FERRY

Gaoth Dobhair Under 21 manager Hugo Diver admits that it has been challenging to gel his team together over the last few weeks but he hopes for further improvement this weekend.

The Magheragallon men have defeated Dungloe and drawn with St Eunan’s.

However, they haven’t quite hit their flow just yet, with a lot of players away at college.

Add in the fact that both the club’s senior and reserve team reached county finals and suffered heartbreaking defeats, and it’s understandable that there hasn’t been a seamless transition to Under 21 football.

“We didn’t really get time to gel as a unit yet because we were in the Reserve Final and the Senior Final plus the minors got to the semi-final, so we only got together there two weeks ago, just the week before we played Dungloe.

“It’s very hard to work on stuff and to work as a unit but they’re coming along.”

Diver is dependent on a host of teenagers and the likes of Jordi Gribben, Cathal Ó Gallchóir, and Padraig Mac Giolla Bhríde played for Southwest Donegal, as well as the County Under 20s and their club minor and senior teams since the start of January.

“They were involved in MacRory Cup and the Minors and the 20s and a lot of them are involved with college teams so they’re not really getting a break.

“We have a few Leaving Cert students at home but we’re struggling. We have 12 to 14 at home midweek, so it’s very hard to get them together and then you have a game on a Saturday, it’s really not easy to get them to work as a unit so we’re depending on their own capabilities.”

Gaoth Dobhair were disappointed not to defeat St Eunan’s after going a point ahead with the strong breeze behind them but could only muster 1-4 as the sides drew.

“We just couldn’t get that point ahead of them to be able to control the game, they were able to control possession and play the game on their terms and we weren’t able to get our hands on the ball, then every time we did we gave it away cheaply, conditions were tough sothat had a big bearing on everything as the scoreline suggests.”

Adam Mac Iomhair played at midfield in the Donegal SFC final but Gaoth Dobhair don’t have a lot of 20 or 21-year-olds in their team.

John Paul Ó Gallchoir, who was a county minor this year, came on and made a good impact against St Eunan’s.

“We needed a left-footer with the way the wind was blowing so he hit a free and a nice two-pointer for us, we just couldn’t get him on the ball then which was a pity.”

Next up for Gaoth Dobhair is a game against reigning champions Four Masters, who they have struggled to beat at underage level.

Diver isn’t getting too worked up about Masters, and feels that there are a lot of strong opponents in the competition.

“Every game you get it doesn’t matter whether you get Termon or Glenswilly or ‘Eunan’s – they’re all good sides, Glenties as well.

“Every side is well capable of beating each other on their day, you could have conditions where it’s a game of two halves, so we’ll just look forward to that next week and that will be it.”