Donegal U-20s given raw deal for Ulster semi-final as date changed

The Donegal U-20 team, who came through a thrilling Ulster quarter-final win over Antrim last week, have been given a raw deal this week with their Ulster semi-final against Derry being rescheduled against their wishes.

The semi-final was on the original fixture list for Wednesday of next week, April 12th at a neutral venue. Those fixtures were made by the Ulster Council at the beginning of the year with a two week interval between quarter-finals, semi-finals and final.

However, Donegal’s semi-final opponents, Derry, applied to have the game changed to a date that would suit the inclusion of a number of their panel who are in the Derry senior panel. U-20 players are allowed to play for both but there has to be a seven day interval between games.

The Donegal team and management, after overcoming Antrim in an exciting penalty shoot out on Wednesday of last week, were making their plans and preparations as per the original fixture.

But they were hit with a double whammy on Tuesday last when a specially organised zoom meeting of the Ulster CCC at 9 am at which the fixture request for Derry was unanimously agreed on a vote of 8-1.

Then with no suitable neutral venue available (Healy Park, Omagh and Brewster Park, Enniskillen are undergoing works), Donegal, rather than travelling to Armagh or Clones, agreed to the toss of a coin for home advantage. Derry won the toss so the game goes ahead at Owenbeg on Saturday next at 4 p.m.

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Even the timing of Saturday’s game was to make sure that Derry were accommodated, as even if the game goes to extra-time and penalties, it will be finished by the 7pm deadline, which will leave the five Derry players on the senior panel eligible to play against Fermanagh in the senior championship seven days later on Saturday, 15th at 7 pm.

The Donegal U-20 management were keeping their counsel on the matter this week and will probably be using it as motivation for the game.

Derry defeated Fermanagh in their quarter-final by 3-12 to 0-8 and would be favourites to reach the Ulster final.

Donegal are sweating on the fitness of Luke McGlynn, who hasn’t played any football since coming on as a substitute against Kerry in the National Football League. The Donegal management were hopeful that he might have been fit for the original fixture but with the game being brought forward it might come too soon for him.

Donegal, under the management of Leo McLoone, Eamon McGee and Ownie McGarvey, have always had this game in their sights. All their training was scheduled for what they feel will be their biggest test.

The rescheduling and the fact that they now have to play Derry in their own backyard makes it an even tougher game than originally planned. And there are questions to be asked as to how you can change fixtures in mid-stream to suit one team.