BRIAN McCabe’s Donegal Under-17s are off to the Watty Grahams Club in Glen, County Derry, on Saturday for the Jim McGuigan Cup finals.
The finals are held each year for inter-county academy squads. Two years ago, Donegal won the title in Maghera when they defeated Tyrone 2-10 to 1-6.
This time around Donegal face Tyrone in one semi-final while Armagh take on Monaghan in the other (throw-in 12noon).
The cloud of the Donegal minors Ulster MFC semi-final defeat by Derry has been a silver lining for McCabe as he has been able to welcome Seaghan Ferry, Nathan Boyle, Jason McGee, Niall O’Donnell and Eoghan McGettigan back into his ranks ahead of the finals.
“We’re looking to win it,” the St Naul’s clubman told Donegal Sport Hub.
“If we can perform to the levels that we’re capable of then we won’t be far away.
“We didn’t expect to be as strong because we expected the minors to be in an All-Ireland semi-final, but we’re as strong as we can be for this weekend.”
St Eunan’s man Jim Clarke is the team trainer while Sean MacCumhaills’ Mickey McMahon is on board as a selector and Glenswilly’s Paddy McGinty is the kitman on McCabe’s backroom team.
The Donegal boss said: “It would be great to win it and get another underage title for Donegal.
“We have a great group of lads with us. We have been training every weekend since the end of March and the challenge games that we’ve played have all gone very well.
“We’re very happy with where we’re at. We’ll put our best feet forward on Saturday and see where it takes us.”
Donegal panel: Gavin Mulreany, Matthew Gallagher, Karl Dunnion, Daniel Lyons, Lee Doherty, Aaron McCrea, Mark Curran, Odhrán Shields, Adam Lynch, Brian McIntyre, Tony Harkin, Logan Quinn, Odhrán Derry, Kieran Gallagher, Oisin Rooney, Shane McGrath, James Byrne, Kieran McGinley, Odhrán McFadden, Stephen Carr, Ryan Connors, Pauric O’Neill, Ciaran Kelly, Eoghan Carr, James McSharry, Conor Boyle, Seaghan Ferry, Nathan Boyle, Jason McGee, Eoghan McGettigan, Niall O’Donnell, JD Boyle, Ciaran McFadden, Shaun Halvey, Stephen Gallagher, Kevin Grant, Seanan Boyle, Niall Carr, Jamie Hunter.
