By Ronan Scott
FOLLOWING Saturday’s All-Ireland Richie McElligott victory, the county’s U-20s hurlers should have the confidence to make a challenge for the Ulster Championship next year.
That’s the analysis of this year’s manager, Conor O’Prey, whose team defeated Roscommon in Croke Park to lift the All-Ireland B title.
“It has given those lads confidence. They know they can compete,” Conor told the Mourne Observer.
“That Roscommon team got beat by Derry last year and then Derry went and won Ulster this year because they had the core group of players.
“We feel that they would be able to compete against Derry and Antrim next year. That will be the aim.
“They will not be going into the Ulster thinking of just competing. If I am involved they will be going to try and win.”
No decision has been made as to whether Conor will be managing the team next year. Conor said he is expecting to have a meeting with the county board as to what will happen. But whoever manages the team will have 20 of this year’s squad returning, and nine of those are starters from this year.
Conor said that is a massive boost for the team, who confounded a lot of expectations this year.
“At the start of the year, we wouldn’t have been expected to get to Croke Park, and to win.
“That confidence going into next year, particularly for the Ulster campaign, will help them knowing that they can compete against good teams and that they can beat them.
“Roscommon are a good team in fairness to them. They haven’t got to three finals in a row not being a good team. They are just unfortunate to have been beaten.”
In the current issue read more analysis from Conor O’Prey plus see images and the report.