‘We’re in a great position to do it’

TEAM manager Ian Brick outlined the many factors which are relevant to the final result, not least, the opportunity to complete backto-back wins in the competition.

He is also involved in the senior set up, and, feels that this particular squad could provide a lot of players capable of making the step up to the next level, and they are, he stressed, a special group of players.

However, he feels that in Derry they will face a formidable force, the best they have faced in the competition to date.

“They’ve been playing together since Under 14 at county level. The players are friends, first and foremost. Anything we have asked them to do they’re done it with plenty of enthusiasm and a lot of these players we hope will be pushing on to the senior panel next year.

“We definitely see a future with this bunch of players, not just these, but, with last year’s minors as well. So, there is a progression of decent players and committed players, which is more important coming through the last few years.

“I think it’s a credit to everybody involved in the development squads. There is certainly no team set in stone as yet. Anybody who is playing well will always give himself a chance, and we have to look at the form of players.

“It’s really who is in form at the time, you have to go with those really. That’s why it’s so important really this year that we have a strong squad. On any given day you never know how things are going to go. We conceded an early goal against Kildare, but once we got to the pace of the game we dominated.

“I think the pick of the three teams which we played already wouldn’t be good enough to beat Derry, from what I saw, anyway. Four or five of their players played in an All Ireland club semi-final, this year probably should have beaten Na Piarsaigh.

“We have a strong centre all right, up front we might be struggling for height, and physicality. They [Derry] blew away Meath in the first ten minutes, and the only reason they didn’t put the game away earlier was that they had so many wides.

“Big strong physically fit men, very strong in the air, well able to puck the ball, so they are going to be putting us under pressure throughout the game. So we are going to rely on our quick hurling, touch, I suppose plenty stick work as well.

“It’s not every team that can put titles back to back. It’s one thing winning one All Ireland, being a good team, but to be a great squad you have to put them back-to-back and we are in a great position to do that.”