Minors put titles on the line

They provide the curtain raiser in a fascinating double bill at Celtic Park in Derry.

Unlike the senior side, the county minor team will have to contest an Ulster final before they are afforded a second bite at the cherry.

The management of the young team, however, as was the case in 2009, will be targeting the traditional route to glory.

Only two of the starting 15 who played in last season’s All-Ireland campaign remain in the current squad, although six in total from 2009 still remain in the overall panel.

During a tough league campaign, the Armagh minors lost just once to the eventual winners, Dublin, who had a comfortable 12 points victory over Tyrone in the final. Armagh drew with Meath and had wins over Monaghan, Donegal and Cavan.

Several of the young players have already been seen in action in the latter stages of schools competitions, in particular those from St. Colman’s College, Newry and St. Michael’s Grammar School, Lurgan.

St Peter’s have three players on the squad, namely Niall McConville, Sean O’Neill and Aaron Finden. Barry Seeley and Brendan McCarron will represent Clann ireann. Sarsfields players Colin Stevenson and Paul McGeown are included, and Aidan Forker from Maghery, Matthew McNeice from Annaghmore, Steven Magee from Clan na Gael, Ruairi McCaughley from Wolfe Tones and Clonmore’s Daniel Mullen will also be in the squad.

Last year’s successful management team of Paul McShane, Sean Hughes and Kieran Robinson are hoping to defeat Derry in the Ulster opener to build confidence for a sustained challenge.

Although the potential toughness of the task in hand has not been lost on the team’s coaches, Kieran Robinson believes that this new side can stand on its own merits.

He said: “I suppose you would expect other teams to be looking to knock us off our perch, but you could say we have almost a totally new team. At the end of the day, it’s not like a senior team where you have almost the same squad attempting to retain a title. The thing about a minor team is you can bring a fresh approach to each season.

“I believe that all the players realise that they will have to look at this season in isolation. It would be great to put two good minor teams back to back.”

Derry will need little motivation on Sunday at Celtic park as they attempt to dethrone the reigning Ulster Champions, but Armagh will be concentrating on their own performance.

Kieran Robinson added: “It’s a clich, but we just have to concentrate on what we do on the day and be focused, well-prepared and hope that all the niggling injury worries clear up on time.

“To be fair, it was difficult to get a panel together until the start of April with the school football taking centre stage, but as a management team, we couldn’t ask anymore from the players as far as discipline and dedication are concerned.”

Last season the Armagh minors, playing an exciting brand of attacking football, created their own piece of history.

They can take the first step towards retaining their crown by overcoming a good Derry side at Celtic Park.