By Frank Craig

It’s Round 2 of the MFC and Luke Barrett brings his Donegal team to Owenbeg on Saturday with the formidable challenge of Derry standing in their way.

The Oak Leaf youngsters pummelled Armagh 5-10 to 2-6 in their previous outing and will go into the weekend’s clash in confident mood. The sides did cross paths in the League earlier in the season with Donegal claiming a 1-11 to 0-11 win, in Celtic Park, back in March.

But Barrett says he won’t be drawing too many conclusions from that afternoon. League, he insists, bares little or no resemblance to the white heat of Championship.

“It’s a good while now since we played in the League,” he said. “We would like to think we’ve improved and they have certainly kicked on. Some of these guys would have played against each other at MacRory Cup level. Derry have a fair few of the St Pat’s, Maghera and Magherafelt lads on board. They have a lot of talent and pedigree.

“The big difference this season is that there was no Buncrana Cup (last year). In previous years you would have had a better idea about who you were coming up against. For us, we’re really going off what we seen that last time out in Derry and the few clips we have from their win over Armagh. At the same time, that game was over before half-time so there wasn’t really too much to take from it.”

He added: “They kicked five goals so we know they have the potential to hurt us if we aren’t on guard. I explained to the lads that at 24 minutes in Derry against Armagh, it was 1-4 to 1-2. By the 29th minutes it was 4-5 to 1-2. In the space of five minutes the game was over. It was an extremely ruthless slip through the gears. Derry are probably as well balanced a minor side I’ve ever looked at. They are extremely well coached. They don’t have any passengers.”

Rory Gallagher’s seniors Oak Leafers sent a seismic ripple through the SFC at the weekend with their clinical elimination of All-Ireland champions Tyrone from the provincial running. And the mood at their fine training base at Owenbeg this week is no doubt a positive one.

“Owenbeg – they would feel that’s bang in the heartland of Derry GAA,” said Barrett. “It’s the home of football in there. Their minors will be rubbing shoulders with their seniors this week. It’ll be a very positive environment for them. The senior result against Tyrone was massive. But the truth is, minor football in Derry has been in a good place for so long now.

“Go back to 2015 and look right through. They’ve won Ulsters and even the All-Ireland in 2020. They are very familiar with this kind of occasion and environment.”

It’s close to a fortnight since Barrett’s team served up a 4-15 to 0-5 drubbing to Fermanagh in their Championship bow at MacCumhaill Park. Since then, back at base at the Donegal Training Centre in Convoy, Donegal have been setting about the task of taming what is a very talented Derry.

“We have tried to do as much homework and preparation as we can. But the bottom line for us is always to pay most attention to ourselves. The goal for Donegal at this level, over the next few years, is to be competitive and consistent. If we are, then I feel we’ll bring players through. And I probably sound like a broken record at this stage but the aim for us is to get as many players through to that senior rank as possible. You want them coming out of this stage of their careers with a mindset that making the jump to the next level doesn’t seem that daunting.”

Interestingly, Barrett admits that most of his management team’s coaching takes place on the field, and with ball in hand. Dealing with 15, 16 and 17-year-olds, the manager says players are much more enthusiastic and receptive in that stripped back arena.

“Like I said, our style is to focus on ourselves. We don’t dwell too much on setting up for the opposition. Yeah, we look to identify ways of stopping them and pinpointing key players. But at a developmental stage, these lads aren’t the finished article. There is so much more scope for improvement. And that’s best served on the field, I feel.

“Working collectively there, outside, I still feel so many the bases of what we’re trying to do can best be covered there. Everything is done with the ball and in a game-based scenario.

“I can safely say we’ve never done a single session without the ball. Technically and tactically, they’re at a stage where they’re really learning. And again, on the pitch is the best place to move that along. It’s never too complicated.

“It’s almost like a footballing toolbox – what you’re trying to give them. So when they do step up to Under 20 and senior, the tactical work they do there, they can understand it quite easily. But it’s not rocket science or reinventing the wheel. It’s just about creating as many situations that you come across during games. We’re in Championship mode now any ways. The hard yards are done. So it’s a lot of ball work now and, at the same time, hoping no one gets injured or picks up a knock. At this moment we’ve a clean bill of health and that’s a real positive.”

VERDICT: Donegal