Shane Callaghan eyes up important Group A clash against Derry in U-20 Championship

Donegal Under-20s are currently on three wins out of three in Group A of the Championship, but Wednesday night will decide whether they top the group as they face Derry.

Donegal have been out in the first three rounds of fixtures with wins over Fermanagh, Monaghan and Antrim, and conclude the group phase against the Oak Leaf side on Wednesday night, who are on two wins from two in the group of five.

No other team remaining can match Donegal’s tally of six points apart from Wednesday night’s opponents, who boast a wealth of quality at this level this year and star Donegal forward Shane Callaghan is expecting it to be all to play for in Celtic Park (throw-in 7.30pm).

“Derry are coming out as All-Ireland Champions at minor level in 2023 and 2024, so they have a really good crop of players, and we’re expecting it to either be us or them to top the group.

“All focus now is on Wednesday and we’re really looking forward to it.”

Donegal suffered close encounters in their opening two games, edging past Fermanagh in added time before a two-point win over Monaghan in their second match.

But they made lighter work of Antrim in Ballyshannon on Saturday, winning by 2-19 to 2-7, in which the Naomh Columba man hit six points.

“It was a big improvement, surely. The first day out, we had 17 wides, and then the last day against Monaghan, the conditions weren’t great, so we had a good day in Ballyshannon, and the conditions were good, and we went after a good shot selection and finished with 2–19, so we were happy.

“We had a tough day out the first day against Fermanagh, everybody probably expected it to be that bit easier, but it was a tough game.

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“The last day against Monaghan, it was tough conditions, and it took us a while to get into the game.”

Against the breeze versus Antrim, the sides were level at the break.

But Callaghan led the way in the second half on Saturday with a great two-point effort, and Gary Boyle’s men began to hit them for fun, ending the game with five from outside the arc

“You need them two pointers, they’re a big asset of the game, and we have a lot of good two-point shooters. Thomas Lenehan came off the bench there, and Tomás Carr, they’re all good two-point shooters, and we do go after them.

And even though they were without the considerable services of senior panellists Finnbarr Roarty, Padraig Mac Giolla Bhride, Max Campbell, Kevin Muldoon, Turlough Carr, as well as the injured Conor McCahill, Donegal still had way too much for the young Saffrons. 

“It’s a mighty group of players, and it’s been pushing everyone on, and it makes it that bit better in training, everyone is pushing it on, and it’s a great environment to have.

“It’s about getting points on board and the knockout stages are where you want to be putting everything together and have everyone flying and in top shape; you don’t want to be peaking too early.”