A DRAMATIC penalty shoot-out went Tyrone’s way last weekend, but it’s an experience manager Gerard Donnelly would prefer not to revisit in Sunday’s Ulster MFC final against Derry.
The U17 decider will be finished on the day, with the prospect of unimaginable pressure being placed on the shoulders of a handful of youngsters in a spot-kick lottery under the gaze of 30,000 spectators.
Goalkeeper Conor McAneney broke Donegal hearts with the crucial save at Celtic Park, sending his team through to this weekend’s Clones meeting with an Oak Leaf side that scored a somewhat less fraught semi-final win over Cavan.
“It’s a tough way to lose a match, but we were just glad to win it. It was nerve-wracking, a lot of pressure on young lads, but we all knew that was the story,” said Donnelly.
“I know penalties came in to the GAA when Covid hit, to get matches finished on the day.
“Especially for young lads, to put that pressure on a kick, one miss and a whole county season could be over.
“But look, is it any different than a lad having to hit a free in the last minute of a game?
“We knew before the game it was going to be a penalty shoot-out, but we certainly hadn’t practiced it, I wouldn’t imagine Donegal had practiced penalties.
“To put that pressure on young lads is tough, and a replay would probably be the best way to sort those things out.
“And you could go to an extra five minutes each way, but we had lads cramping all over the place, so that’s not really fair either.”
The quick turnaround from an absorbing extra-time battle with Donegal will place added demands on aching limbs and muscles, and the Red Hand physios face a busy few days in helping speed recovery.
“The eight days is very, very tight, but to be on this platform, I wouldn’t substitute it,” Donnelly said, voicing his approval of the decision to stage the minor final as a curtain-raiser to Sunday’s senior decider.
“I would far rather have this than maybe have an extra three or four days and be stuck in on a Wednesday night on our own.
“It’s an experience these lads will never forget, it’s an Ulster final.
“They’re 16- and 17-year-old boys, and you would just hope that barring injury, the tiredness shouldn’t be too bad with them.”
Both finalists will progress to the All-Ireland quarter-finals against Munster opposition, but the Tyrone boss insisted that the absence of a sudden death element will not diminish the will to win.
“There’s two medals you have a chance of winning. I think both teams will be definitely gunning to go and win an Ulster title.”
A backroom team that includes treble All-Ireland winners Conor Gormley and Ciaran Gourley has been a key driver in Tyrone’s success over the past couple of seasons, and Donnelly is particularly glowing in his assessment of the influence of coach Gary Hetherington.
“Gary was my port of call whenever I got this. If Gary had said no, I probably not have taken this on.
“Conor and Ciaran have been asked by different clubs, and have always said no, but when I rang them, lucky enough they agreed. And then we have Tommy Canavan as well.
“Those lads on the coaching side, they have all won their All-Irelands, they have all played in Croke Park on big days, and they’re passing on invaluable experience.”
