DONEGAL MINOR MANAGER Shaun Paul Barrett is convinced his team has what it takes to get over the line against Galway on Sunday and reach the All-Ireland MFC final.
Donegal are just an hour away from what would be only the county’s second ever appearance in an All-Ireland minor final as they get ready to face the Tribesmen at Croke Park.
Picture caption: Shaun Paul Barrett speaks to his players after the quarter-final win over Crk. Picture by Geraldine Diver
Two years ago, Declan Bonner’s team were beaten by Kerry in the decider and now Barrett’s boys have just one hurdle to leap.
[adrotate group=”82″]“Things have been going well. It’s about getting them focussed now and keeping the eyes on the game,” the Milford man told Donegal Sport Hub.
“They have incredible belief. We had short-term goals and long-term goals. We have achieved each one so far and Sunday is the next one.
“We have big ambitions. We wanted to win Ulster and it was great to win it, but once it was over we moved on to the next day.
“I couldn’t speak highly enough of them. They have done everything that we have asked of them with a heart and a half.”
Barrett succeeded Bonner at the end of last summer.
Both men had success at Under-17 level, winning the Jim McGuigan Cup, the inception of which Barrett believes has been key to Donegal’s recent successes at underage level.
[adrotate group=”38″]Barrett said: “One of the biggest things has been the Jim McGuigan Cup for the Under-17s. It has narrowed the gap from Under-16 to minor. We lost a year after being dominating at under-16 level, but the Jim McGuigan has helped that.”
Donegal haven’t been utterly convincing this year having wobbled at different phases in each of their games, but Antrim, Monaghan, Derry and Cork have all been slayed.
Against Derry in the Ulster final and in the All-Ireland quarter-final against Cork, Donegal had to overcome slow starts before coming good to get over the line.
Listen to the full interview below …
https://soundcloud.com/donegalsporthub-club-notes/shaun-paul-barrett-before-all-ireland-minor-semi-final
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