Last year’s finalists meet in the final four of U21 Championship

It’s a familiar setting to last year’s Under-21 A final, as Four Masters and Glenswilly played out a brilliant final in Fr Tierney Park last December, the Donegal Town men winning by 1-15 to 2-9.

Both sides are in similar shape to then, with just three players from last year’s starting 30 overage as the sides meet at the Burn Road on Sunday.

Senan Quinn is the only loss for the Four Masters squad, while for Glenswilly, only Jake Kelly and Oisin McDaid from their starting 15 from last year are not involved.

And Four Masters manager Aaron McCrea expects another epic.

“Glenswilly, I’m sure, will have been disappointed not to come away with the title last season, it was a tit-for-tat battle, so I’m sure they’ll be gunning for us this year.

“It was some atmosphere, and the flares came out before half-time and Glenswilly got their two goals. It was my first year coaching and I thought to myself on the sideline that it’s the first time the players can’t hear me, and I can’t hear them, so it was a different perspective.

“From what I’ve seen, a lot of teams didn’t lose too many players from last year to this year, which is surprising.”

The likes of Seanan Carr and Turlough Carr, Lewis McCaughan, David Monaghan, Callum McCrea, Kevin Muldoon, Conor McCahill and Cian Gavigan are some of the men who have gotten plenty of senior experience this year as the side made the semi-final.

And while they gained valuable experience, McCrea feels the remaining four teams are all in a similar position in that aspect.

“I wouldn’t say we’re particularly better off than last year. We definitely have got more experience, which will stand to them.

“But the teams left all seem to have got a lot of senior experience in their side this year, Termon had a good run in the league and championship, Naomh Conaill the same in winning the championship.

“Glenswilly’s lads have another year of experience under their belt, so we mightn’t be in a better position than those sides.

“They have boys who have made a good impact at senior level, so they have a lot of quality throughout the team.

“Players in general across the board in the competition are more experienced, so I don’t think there’s much of a difference in that respect.

“Daniel McGinty has been injured, but we’re not sure if he’ll be available. He’s a big miss and was Man of the Match in last year’s final. But we’re not too bad other than that. Thomas Lenehan picked up a bit of a knock in a MacRory Cup game but thankfully, we’ve been okay with injuries so far. Leo McGowan tore his ACL a year ago, and he’s back training, which is a good boost for him.”

The Donegal Town men were beaten by Termon in their opening game of the championship, but were minus a lot of their minor side that day as they faced Glenswilly in the Division 1 final.

Big wins over Aodh Ruadh and Gaoth Dobhair followed to give them a home draw in the quarter-finals, and they were convincing over Sean MacCumhaills at the weekend.

McCrea is managing along with Patrick Reid and John Kennedy, once again this season, while senior players Richard O’Rourke and Joe Leape are also helping out as they try to defend their crown from last year.

“There’s a lot of good experience there, and we spread the work between everyone.

“We didn’t set out with the goal of winning it last year, and it was just game by game really. A lot of them lads would have been on the first, second and third minor winning teams, so they have a lot of success behind them.

“But the previous year doesn’t count for anything when you go into the next competition, everyone starts out on their own merit, so we’ll build from there.

“We got beat against Termon the first day, and then we had a bit of a scare against Gaoth Dobhair, so it’s all about taking it game by game.

“We said to the boys that on the first day of any new competition, the target is the holders, the likes of Naomh Conaill and St Eunan’s at senior level are the teams people target at the start of the season.”

For Glenswilly selector Michael Canning, they are looking to right the wrongs of last year.

Canning wasn’t part of the backroom team last year, but came in to help out Neil Gallagher, with Brendan Walsh and Gary McFadden also in the backroom team.

“Neil has been great with the younger players, the boys look up to him and he’s been there, done that as a two-time All-Star.

“We’re delighted to have him in. He’s done well with the 16s this year, too and he’s great for them.

“Myself and Neil go way back and I said I’d come in this year and help keep the show on the road.

Glenswilly lost out to Termon in the final group game by a point, after two wins by the minimum over Naomh Conaill and Sean MacCumhaills.

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But they won by an impressive seven points over Gaoth Dobhair in the quarter-finals.

“We never want to lose against your neighbours, but knowing that we were through was always something that in the back of the head it wouldn’t be a knockout match.

“But it is all about knock out from now on and it is do-or-die.

“We’re in good stead that the majority of the team is still there from last year and we got great experience from that so hopefully that will bode well.”

Glenswilly are also a young team at senior level, and a large number of their senior squad is made up of Under-21s.

Jamie McCauley, Liam McGinley, Donal Gallagher, Pauric Devine, Gary Kelly, Reid Kelly and Mark Bonner have all got a wealth of senior experience, as have Shane Tinney, Daithi Gildea and Eoghan Scott, who have been in good scoring form all season.

Those players are all back for another year and are looking towards trying to get revenge for last year.

“We’re really looking forward to it, it’s a huge challenge but these are the games you want to be playing in.

“We’re preparing well for it and we’re ready to get another crack at Four Masters, particularly after not getting over the line last year so hopefully we can go one further this year.

“The team are looking all good and we have a full deck to choose from so it’s about getting things right on the day and having a go.”