Shane Callaghan points the way for Donegal minors to Ulster title

When the going gets tough the tough get going and that was the case for Donegal minors and their centre half-forward Shane Callaghan on Saturday last in the Ulster Minor Football League final meeting with Derry.

With 50 minutes on the clock Donegal found themselves 0-5 to 0-9 down and the clock ticking. They had turned over at the start of the second half 0-5 to 0-4 in front.

But three pointed frees from Naomh Columba ace Callaghan brought Donegal right back into the tie with the Oak Leaf boys.

Minutes before Callaghan stroked over the first of his three points, Padraig McBride pulled off a super save from the penalty spot.
The Gaoth Dobhair custodian dived full length to deny Derry corner-forward John McGonigle at his right upright.

“It was a serious save from Padraig (McBride),” stressed
Donegal’s leading scorer, Callaghan.

“He is a top class ‘keeper and it was a big turning point for us but to be honest I though the penalty with the conditions and everyone sliding was harsh”

“The save kept us in the game. We were two behind at the time.”
And while Derry quickly added two more points, Donegal were not on for throwing in the towel even though time was running out.

“We decided at that stage we had nothing to lose. We used the league to look at everyone in the squad and it was the same today.

“It is a big day, a big crowd and brilliant facilities. We decided we had nothing to lose and it was a matter of leaving everything on the pitch.

“The game was on the stroke of the hour mark when Derry ‘keeper Karl Campbell fumbled and the ball broke to Eoghan Scott. And the Glenswilly man drove low and hard past Campbell, who was left isolated.”

Donegal now found themselves two up in injury time and in the closing minutes team captain Finbar Roarty joined the attack to kick the insurance point and a three point winning margin.”

Donegal strike late to edge out Derry in Minor League decider

Corner forward  Eoghan Scott grabbed a dramatic late goal on the stroke of full-time as Donegal came from five down to be crowned Ulster Minor League champions

It took the two teams a while to settle and the score was 0-2 each 21 minutes into the game.

“It took us a while with pressure and everything to settle into the game. But thankfully we ground it out in the end.

“We were 0-5 to 0-2 up going into the last few minutes of the first half but we then had a dodgy period and gave away a couple of easy frees and there was only a point in it at half-time.

“We were a wee bit disappointed that we let them back into the game. But we regrouped at half-time and said the game is here to be won and the boys showed good character in the second half to get over the line and it sets us up nicely for the championship.”

The final win was a fourth win in the five games played for Donegal and manager Luke Barrett has got to see the most of his squad over the five games.

“Competition for places is pretty keen and that is what you want week in week out, everyone wants to be playing and in the starting team.

“There are boys pushing for a place in the match day panel and there are boys pushing for a place in the first 15 every week.

“You need that with injuries, you need every man tuned and every man going 100%. Hopefully we can push on in the championship.”
Donegal’s attention switches now to the new-look Ulster minor championship, which is being played on a league basis.

Donegal are in a group of five teams along with Derry, Down, Fermanagh and Monaghan.

They each play each other once with two away and two home games. Donegal begin with a home tie with Fermanagh, then away to Down, home to Derry and away to Monaghan.

The other group is made up of four teams - Antrim, Armagh, Cavan and Tyrone. The top two in each group qualify for the quarter-finals.

“Any day you go out you want to win but the league was never our priority, we always look to the championship.

“But we wanted to win today. We have that winning mentality.”

Donegal’s opening game of the championship is against Fermanagh in Ballybofey on April 19, followed by Down away, four days later on Sunday, April 23 and they have a third outing in ten days when they host Derry in Ballybofey, on Saturday, April 29. The last of the group games is away to Monaghan on Saturday May 6.