McShea’s Say: U-21 quarter-finals were top-quality games 

The quality of football played in the weekend’s U-21 quarter finals was, I believe, of a very high standard, with several quite outstanding individual performances. 

It must be a reason for optimism regarding Donegal’s prospects going forward. In their narrow defeat to Termon after extra time, Aodh Ruadh’s Jack Gallagher had an outstanding match, scoring 1-10. 

Jack’s grandfather, Kieran Blake, was an exceptionally good corner forward for St. Joseph’s, so the apple does not fall far from the tree in this case. 

For Termon, Oisin Harkin and Ciaran Cassidy once more confirmed their genuine potential. In Four Masters’ emphatic win against Sean MacCumhaills, Kevin Muldoon played superbly, finishing the game with 2-3 to his credit, while he got much support from Seanan and Tomas Carr, two other outstanding prospects from the Donegal town team. 

Glenswilly had seven points to spare in beating Gaoth Dobhair, and the standout performer here was Glenswilly midfielder Mark Bonner. 

Mark covered every blade of grass in Pairc Naomh Columba, and a repeat of this display by their midfielder will see them qualify for another final this year. 

The game between St. Eunan’s and Naomh featured much quality football. A feature of this encounter was the outstanding performance by both goalkeepers - Dylan McGlynn for Glenties, who prevailed on a scoreline of 0-16 to 1-10, and St. Eunan’s net minder Fintan Doherty, who, apart from making several top-class saves, also hit two points from frees. 

The semi-finals should be two games to savour. If some of these talented young lads bring this form to Senior football, then Donegal will be in a very good place, but confidence is a fragile thing, and the dividing line between underage and senior football is very steep. 

But having watched this group of players, I believe there is no doubting their skill and ability to “make it” at the game’s top level.

Troy Parrott 

Sunday was one of those wonderful occasions when people in years to come will ask, “where were you when Ireland beat Hungary with that 96th-minute goal?” 

In what was one of the Irish team’s greatest victories, I genuinely felt that before Troy Parrott’s spectacular winner, I was pleased with the excellence, battling, and incredible will to win displayed by every player in the famous green jersey. 

Even if Ireland had not delivered such a spectacular result, their display was admirable in that second half, as their battling qualities were both remarkable and wonderful. 

Ireland’s display in Budapest was the most inspired, inspiring, and controlled performance I have seen from any Irish side abroad in the last twenty years. Parrott set a new, almost unexplored beat. 

He seemed to be suddenly in love with the ball, and the whole side followed his lead. His control, his speed, his whole game was as good as anyone could get. 

It seems like the Irish manager, Heimir Hallgrimsson, decided not to try to change his style, not to make him conform. 

I believe that the manager decided that the only thing they could do for Troy was to change nothing. 

His five wonderful goals in four days, two against Portugal and his hat trick against Hungary, really is the stuff of dreams. 

On a day when every Irish player played their heart out, Caoimhin Kelleher’s stunning save midway through the second half kept Ireland’s hopes alive. 

His wonderful, measured ball from midfield caused the panic that was required in the Hungarian defence and created the last-minute opportunity for that vital goal, which Troy converted with aplomb. 

Kelleher was brilliant against both Portugal and Hungary, and his distribution and confidence in shot-stopping has him already on a par with our two former Donegal keepers Packie Bonner and Shay Given. 

Seamus Coleman was simply remarkable in his beloved Irish jersey in a week to remember. His fitness levels are incredible, while his experience and leadership qualities were never better. 

At 37, Seamus once again did Killybegs and Donegal very proud. Football is nothing without romance; it is a love affair that this Irish team have rekindled once again after a few years when things seemed to be in disarray. 

On Monday morning, the only topic for discussion was “did you watch the match?” The buzz was incredible. 

We are a great little sporting country, who are great at punching above our weight - Portugal and Hungary put to the sword by our soccer team, Australia blown away by our Rugby side, and the under 21 semi finals to look forward to next weekend. It does not get any better than that.