Donegal U-16 hope to finish the season on a high and chase Buncrana Shield title

Paul O’Loughlin and his Donegal U-16 side are hoping to finish their Buncrana Cup campaign on a high when they take on Dublin in the Shield final this Saturday at 12.30pm in Buncrana. 

It’s been a really positive return for the Belleek native, now a lecturer at South West College in Omagh, who played most of his football with Aodh Ruadh Ballyshannon and who was involved with the Donegal Academy and also with the County Girls U-16s in recent years. 

But having stepped into the role as the U-16 boys' manager this season, he has taken to it like a duck to water and has enjoyed every minute of it stating that while it is important for his side to try and find a win this weekend against Dublin, the real positivity has been how much his players have developed both individually and as a team. 

“I suppose at the start of the year whenever I spoke to Damian Diver and Declan Bushell about what the ambitions for the Buncrana Cup team were, it was clear that developing players was more important than winning,” said O’Loughlin 

“I think when you look at the bigger picture, we are delighted to be in a Shield final this weekend because, with everything that has gone on with the Academy last year, our lads would’ve missed out on nearly an entire year, so for the lads to be where they’re at, it shows how good they are and how committed they are to their football.” 

With four games played in the competition, Donegal overcame Tyrone in the semi-final two weeks ago to make a Shield final, and are now hoping to finish their season on a high with a victory over the Dubs this weekend. 

Against Tyrone, Donegal led for most of the contest but were overtaken by the Red Hand County in a 1-4 scoring burst in the middle of the second half, but O’Loughlin’s men responded well to score the last three points and take the victory. 

“We’re in a good place at the minute. A lot of players who perhaps didn’t get a chance all year got to show their worth by playing in a challenge game last week against Warwickshire’s minor. A lot of them were really impressive and it leaves it very open now coming into the final day to pick the team,” the manager said. 

“These lads have been brilliant to work with, they’re a very mannerly group and I know when we set out at the start of this campaign, our aim was to develop them as players and as people.” 

Having enjoyed the entire season with the U-16 county team, O’Loughlin acknowledges the positive steps put forward in developing players and creating an almost professional environment where players can express themselves and have all the access to make them the best player possible. 

“You can see how much these underage teams have come along in terms of professionalism and in terms of helping people with their health and wellbeing,” he said.  

“The sports science has come a long way in terms of managing injuries, understanding diets, and preparing for games both physically and mentally, so the players are well prepared all the time. 

“I think what’s so good about these modern setups is that players have a space where they can express how they feel and we all learn from it. Yes, there’s winning and losing, but we like to go into a deeper side to that, why did we not perform, what did we do differently that affected us and how can we change that? It’s all these little things. 

“So, really, it’s an education about how we look after ourselves both inside and outside of the academy and we hope to send them back to their clubs as better players.”