Teenager Finnbarr Roarty making up for lost time with man of match award

“Yeah it’s a class day getting man of the match. Not many of them come around. Yeah, happy out and happy with the team performance,” was the reaction of Naomh Conaill teenager Finnbarr Roarty, who has really made a name for himself in his debut season with Donegal.

His consistency over the year has been extraordinary for one so young and on Sunday he was named man of the match for his performance against Meath in Croke Park.

Even in the aftermath of such an extraordinary achievement of being part of the Donegal team to reach only their fourth All-Ireland final ever, Roarty was speaking like a veteran and not someone who has just joined the Donegal set up this year.

“On another day another man will get man of the match and that’s the best thing about the team. Everyone is at the same level and everyone is pushing the team on themselves.”

The Naomh Conall defender has filled out and despite being only 19, looks like and plays like a mature player.

It is a long way since the Dr McKenna Cup of January 2024 when Roarty made debut at corner-back against Armagh, only to be told afterwards that he was too young. 

He had to wait a long year for his next game but he surely has grasped the opportunity with both hands. To the point where he is now one of the important links in Jim McGuinness’s team.

It was like being suspended for a year for Roarty.

“It was tough, but at the time I didn’t really mind. Once I got started up again I wasn’t going to let it slip. Yeah, it’s good to be back in the team and to be around this bunch of players; there’s no better lads to be around.”

On Sunday last he gave another great all-round energetic display and that athleticism that he possesses carries him over every blade of grass on the pitch and it seems that Croke Park really suits him.

He is one of the first names on the teamsheet and looks like he will be one of the cornerstones of Donegal and Naomh Conaill for many years to come.

“All the boys are fighting for their spot. Luckily Jim (McGuinness) is picking me week in, week out. So I try not to let it slip and give the best to the team,” says Roarty.

On Sunday last as Donegal put up a magnificent score of 3-26 to annihilate Meath, Roarty gave his view of what it was like to play in the game, especially the strong swirling wind.

“The breeze and the heat was pretty tough so we tried to manage the game well and move the ball around; just to play good football and not be rash when on the ball. Then when the wind came our way we took advantage of it.”

Donegal got a good start but Meath stuck with them but in the final 10 minutes of the half, Roarty and his colleagues went five points up and took that lead to the dressing room.

“We were happy enough going in five up but you can’t be getting too far ahead of yourself. On another day we could have done that and they could have punished us. No game is won at half-time so in the second half we still had to make a big push to carry on the lead.”

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Now the young starlet is ready to prepare to play Kerry in the All-Ireland final. He has already played against the Kingdom in the league, being part of the Donegal team that won in Killarney in February.

As for a debut season, it has been something special for Roarty.