Ward: Any remaining team could win Ulster Minor Championship

By Niall Gartland

DONEGAL boss Barry Ward believes the coveted Ulster Minor Championship title could easily go the way of any of the four teams remaining in the competition.

His team bypassed the quarter-final stage with a round two victory over Armagh, though extra-time was required to separate the two teams, a game he believes is very much in keeping with the competitive nature of this year’s competition.

There are four teams still standing heading into this Saturday’s semi-final encounters: Donegal will take on Cavan at Breffni Park while up the road in Omagh, Tyrone play host to Monaghan, and Barry Ward says all four contenders will fancy their chances of going all the way.

“Honestly, I don’t think any of the remaining teams will go in as underdogs, from what I’ve seen and experienced so far.

“All the games seem to be in the melting pot in the final 10 minutes, where it’s challenge games, league or championship.

“The Ulster Minor Championship is always competitive but I think this year it’s gone to a new level. Before last weekend there were six teams remaining, and all of them would have had notions of doing something.

“Every game has been nip and tuck and we’re not expecting anything different on Saturday.”

Donegal made good use of two-pointers in their battling extra-time victory over Armagh nearly a fortnight ago, but Ward says there’s almost too much discourse about the new rules at this stage.

“It’s funny in a way, there’s so much chat about it in the media, but it’s just part and parcel of things for the actual teams. When you’re training two or three times a week, it’s just part of the session – they’re involved in every drill and every game moment and we’re just getting on with it.

“One thing that frustrates me is that the rules about keeping men back is open to interpretation, I’ve seen it in senior, u-20 and minor games, where the call is made on one side and not the other. But it just seems to be the way it is and you have to roll with it.”

Donegal have already played Cavan this year, in the first round of the Minor League competition back in early March.

A late flurry from Donegal saw them secure victory on a scoreline of 1-13 to 1-10 but Ward isn’t taking anything for granted ahead of their repeat meeting.

“It was a very tight game, we were lucky in a way to come through on the right end of the result.

“The Championship is a different story and we’re expecting a very tough game in Breffni on Saturday.

“The teams generally seem to be of a par this year, and I think it’s the quality of the teams that are making it so competitive. It’s making for an exciting competition.”