Ulster Minor Football Championship final

Donegal v Tyrone

Friday, Brewster Park, 7.30pm

By Niall McCoy

GIVEN their respective strength at underage level in recent years, it does come as a bit of a surprise that Donegal and Tyrone are meeting in an Ulster Minor final for the first time in 30 years.

On that occasion, Donegal, with the likes of Damien Diver and star man Mark Boyle prominent, finished strongly to edge a Red Hand side that could count Sean Teague in their ranks.

A repeat of that outcome would be a surprise given the performances of Gerard Donnelly’s Tyrone side to date.

Across their two games against Down and Fermanagh they have racked up 9-37 – an astonishing return. Their defence hasn’t been too bad either as they have let just 1-15 past them so far.

Ronan Cassidy (2), Shea O’Hare (2), Ruairi McHugh, Eoin McElholm, Noah Grimes, Paddy McCann and Gavin Potter have grabbed the goals – but it’s the manner of some of those majors that will most please Donnelly.

Goal one, three, four and six against the Erne county were all the result of great team moves. The third strike in particular saw a series of hand-passes lead to a goal as a number of players took the right option – not something you always get with players this young.

They actually conceded the first goal of the game, and that will be manna from heaven for Stewartstown native Donnelly.

He is eating it too and it has allowed him to preach about the importance of a quick start at Brewster Park.

“We didn’t get the big start that we are looking for,” he said. “It was rocky for a time in the first half when we were making mistakes, and giving the ball away. Then we got in front again, and it was just a matter of trying to keep going, and not letting them back into the game.”

Team captain Cormac Devlin may not have been one of the goal scorers, but he has been in sparkling form and will be one of the men Donegal must watch out for.

Luke Barrett’s Donegal have not decimated teams like their final opponents, bar against Antrim, but they can point to the fact that they came through the tougher side of the draw. After their 27-point win over Antrim, Monaghan were defeated in the quarter-final and they are never easy at this level. Next up was Armagh and although the Orchard county haven’t been great shakes at minor level in recent seasons, they did defeat All-Ireland champions Derry in the quarter-final.

In truth, Armagh really should have won the match, but their shooting was diabolical on a night when the elements really caused havoc.

It was a low-scoring affair, with Donegal eventually prevailing 1-6 to 0-5 as Luke McGlynn grabbed a late goal to eventually take control of the game.

For so long it looked like Donegal were just going to be kept out of reach, but Armagh were reduced to 14 players at the start of the second half and eventually Barrett’s men wore them down.

They had only managed two first-half points and were grateful to goalkeeper Aaron Cullen for a great save, but they got the job done in the end.

Their scoring exploits were the complete opposite of Tyrone in the semi-final but, again, it must be pointed out just how bad weather conditions were at Healy Park.

Their full-forward line didn’t get much joy while their midfield struggled at times, but they still worked extremely hard, especially when the game was up for grabs. That sort of spirit would have delighted their manager and they’ll require that and so much more in this final.

It matters little other than for those looking for omens, but Tyrone have lost their last two Ulster finals (2013 and 2019) while Donegal have won their last three (2006, 2014 and 2016). The Red Hands did win an u-17 title on a year when u-17 and u-18 competitions were run side by side.

It’s going to take a mammoth effort from the Tir Chonaill county to keep those two runs going though.

Tyrone’s last win at this level was all the way back in 2012, something of a famine for a county that has won the competition seven times since the Millennium. From what we have seen to date, Tyrone should end the wait though. They really do look like an outstanding side.

Verdict: Tyrone