Leo McLoone and Donegal U-20s begin away to Derry

Leo McLoone says his Donegal U-20s are looking forward to finally getting down to business on Saturday as they go to Owenbeg to take on Derry in the Leo Murphy Cup. 

Donegal won the competition last term but came undone against Tyrone in a titanic Ulster semi-final clash that would eventually take extra-time to settle. 

McLoone had been part of the backroom team for the previous two years under Gary Duffy, alongside Eamon McGee and Owenie McGarvey. 

This time out, the Naomh Conaill clubman takes over as boss, with McGee - who also helped Donegal lift Sam Maguire 10 years ago, and McGarvey staying on. Colm McFadden was a huge addition over the course of the winter so there is no doubt the squad will be well prepared. 

“We’re excited to get going,” said McLoone. “The last number of weeks was really disjointed so we really want to see exactly where we’re at more than anything. Freshers, Sigerson and even wee things like niggly injuries interrupted some of our preparations. 

“But thankfully everything has kinda fallen back into place. We’ve more numbers on the pitch. A lot of our boys were involved with ATU Donegal but most of them are now back on board”.

Following the weekend’s visit to the Oak Leafers, Donegal then host Sligo the following weekend before finishing up their group section with another away tie in Mayo. They open their Ulster championship at home to Antrim towards the end of March.  

“This is all building towards that, obviously. We won the league last year and it would be great to give it a rattle this time out once more. We’ve had a good number of departures from last term. That’s how it works at this level. 

“I feel like we’re progressing all of the players - we have really good people in place working with them. It’s a great mixture, the management team, and it has a nice blend of experience. 

“I was explaining to the lads this week that the likes of Johnny McGroddy, Luke McGlynn, Donal Mac Giolla Bhríde, Kieran Tobin and Caolan McColgan, they were in their shoes as recently as last term. 

“And look where they have gone to this season with the Donegal seniors. At the end of the day, that’s the aim at underage and development level, you are looking to build lads towards that ultimate goal. 

“Of course you want to win but there was great satisfaction watching the likes of those lads make that step up like they have. There is no reason why this crop can’t be looking at those examples and thinking, ‘that could be me very soon’. 

“This group - they are a really good group. They are receptive and they really want to learn. And they’ll learn even more now as the games start”.