Call for unity ahead of today's Ulster U- 17 Championship opener against Tyrone, in Ballybofey

Donegal supporters and clubs have been called upon to get behind the county's U-17 footballers ahead of today’s Ulster U-17 Championship meeting with Tyrone in Ballybofey. (Throw-in 6 pm).

The call has been made by county U-17 manager Gary Duffy who has also asked the supporters and clubs to back Rory Kavanagh and the Donegal U16s who face Tyron on Saturday week in Buncrana.

Duffy, who is also the Donegal Children’s Officer, made the comments as  a number of his U-17 players prepare for championship games with their clubs.

A number of U-16 club championship games in Donegal have been fixed for this week and next.  

“I’m really appealing for unity and for everybody to get behind the county teams and their management ahead of these games,” he said.

The club championship  fixtures affect four of the squad, goalkeeper Daithi Roberts, defender Jamie Grant and key forwards Eric Carr and Senan Rooney.   

“Theses players  are also members of Rory Kavanagh’s U-16 team and are down for championship games next week,” Duffy said.

Grant Rooney and Carr are all regular starters for the U-17s.

“You can imagine  we are keeping our fingers crossed they will not pick up any knocks between now and Saturday evening,” the manager added.

“It is very unfair on the players and the management teams who are putting in a huge effort with these squads that club championship games have been fixed for this week ahead of the U-17 and the U16 Buncrana Cu final  the following weekend.

“There are a small number of clubs and officials that don’t support the county U-16 and U-17s  and have no interest in county football or player welfare.

“They are hugely unfair on the players and the management teams that are putting in a huge effort with those teams.”

Duffy added: “We have a number of very good people working with Rory Kavanagh and the U16s.   

“And I have a good management team of Shane Ward, Sean Clerkin, Mickey McMahon and Greg Sweeney working with the U-17s.

“They are all working to move the county forward  and for the good of football in the county, and what’s more, they aren’t costing the county a cent.”

Donegal won their four games in the McGuigan Cup, U-17 League, with victories over Saturday evening’s opponents Tyrone, Fermanagh, Derry and Antrim.

They defeated Tyrone by a point,  2-8 to 0-13, in the opening game of the league  in Ballyshannon at the beginning of March. Senan Rooney and Cathal Gillespie scored the Donegal goals.

Defeated

 Donegal  defeated Armagh by  3-11 to 1-9 before suffering a heavy 2-21 to 1-12 defeat at the  hands of Monaghan in the McGuigan Cup final, the weekend before last.

Monaghan had hammered Tyrone by  3-11 to 1-9 in the semi-final.

Duffy will once again be without influential midfielder Pauric McGettigan and  wing back Matthew Mulholland, both out with fractured wrists.

“The lads are a big loss. But we've a good squad of players and I feel we have strength in depth,” Duffy said.

“All of the squad got game time in the league and I feel we have cover for all positions and have a good squad of players.”

The Donegal boss is not reading too much into the opening day league win over Tyrone.

“Tyrone will be a different proposition, but we will too.  We are ready for it.”

Donegal squad

Corey Byrne (Killybegs), Aaron Gilhooley (MacCumhaill's), Cillian Gildea (Killybegs), Jamie Grant (Termon), Matthew Mulholland (Buncrana), Shane Gillespie (Aodh Ruadh), Caolan Gallagher (Termon), Padraig McGettigan (St Eunan’s), Rory O’Donnell (Milford), Steven McFadden (Gaoth Dobhair), Senan Rooney (Aodh Ruadh), Dylan Doogan (St Eunan’s), Josh Conlon (Malin), Leo Dunphy (Naomh Conaill), Shane O’Donnell (St Eunan’s), Daithi Roberts (Gaoth Dobhair), Cathal Gillespie (Gaoth Dobhair), Ronan Frain (Letterkenny Gaels), Eoin Doherty (Aodh Ruadh), Seamus Og Byrne (Killybegs), Anthony Doherty (Carndonagh), Nathan Byrne (Naomh Conaill), Michael Coughlan (St Naul’s), Odhran McGlynn (Glenfin), Charles Breslin (Killybegs), Donal Higgins (St Eunan’s), Jonathan Toye (Naomh Padraig, Muff), Conor Coll (Milford), Darragh McMenamin (Red Hugh’s), Ross Conneely (Killybegs), Eric Carr (Naomh Columba), Rory Dalton (Robert Emmets).

Manager - Gary Duffy (Buncrana);

Mentors/selectors - Sean Clerkin (Buncrana), Mickey McMahon (Sean MacCumhaill's); Team coach-  Shane Ward (Aodh Ruadh); Goalkeeper coach - Greg Sweeney (Aodh Ruadh). .