Football

Donegal and Armagh head into unknown in U20 curtain-raiser

Armagh will look to the likes of Crossmaglen's Dara O''Callaghan for inspiration at MacCumhaill Park tonight. Picture by Philip Walsh
Armagh will look to the likes of Crossmaglen's Dara O''Callaghan for inspiration at MacCumhaill Park tonight. Picture by Philip Walsh Armagh will look to the likes of Crossmaglen's Dara O''Callaghan for inspiration at MacCumhaill Park tonight. Picture by Philip Walsh

EirGrid Ulster U20 Football Championship preliminary round: Donegal v Armagh (tonight, 8pm, Ballybofey)

THE plea of stepping into the unknown has been echoing around all codes since the day and hour the green light was given for a return to play, and the managers of Donegal and Armagh have understandably joined the chorus ahead of tonight’s Ulster U20 curtain-raiser in Ballybofey.

At minor and U20, there are always those extra question marks hanging in the air, regardless of how meticulous the training, how perfect the planning. How young lads or ladies react once the ball is thrown in can often dictate the eventual outcome.

Throw a pandemic into the mix, including the absence of any kind of league campaign to run the rule, and the unpredictability level is cranked up a notch.

Donegal boss Gary Duffy and Armagh counterpart Peter McDonnell have both been singing from similar hymn sheets in the lead up to tonight’s preliminary round clash, a handful of challenge games hardly the perfect preparation with a quarter-final against Tyrone next Friday the prize at stake.

“Like other managers I’ve been talking to, it’s difficult to prepare a team in lockdown,” said Duffy, who has enlisted the help of 2012 All-Ireland winners Eamon McGee and Leo McLoone.

“A lot has changed over two years since they were minor and a lot of players have developed well, maybe others behind.

“Really it’s been a guessing scenario for us.”

It feels like a long time since Donegal last sent an U20 side into battle, the Ulster final showdown with the Red Hands coming just days before Covid-19 temporarily called time on the 2020 calendar.

Tyrone came up trumps that day to seal back-to-back titles, but the Tir Chonaill still have seven of that starting 15 to call on - captain Rory O’Donnell, Jamie Grant, Richard O’Rourke, Paul O’Hare, Padraig McGettigan, Johnny McGroddy and Ronan Frain. That experience could hand them an edge against the Orchard tonight.

McDonnell hasn’t been without headaches either, with Armagh senior club football taking place mostly on Sundays and the U19 league on Friday evenings. This has made midweek U20 training problematic for some, though the Mullaghbawn man can still call on some serious talent.

Dara O’Callaghan from Crossmaglen is a classy operator and caught the eye during last year’s club championship, while Killeavy goalkeeper Shea Magill is good enough to have been drafted into the senior panel as understudy to Blaine Hughes.

There are some survivors from previous campaigns too, with Niall McCorry in his third year at U20 while Diarmuid Loney, Oisin King and Shane Donnelly were all involved last year, as Armagh look to have something to celebrate on the journey home from Ballybofey.