Before Mayo and Tipp take for the field, before The Sunday Game panel gets down to business, the biggest hour in some teenagers’ lives will take place.
It’ll unfold at Croke Park. It’ll go down in front of thousands and, for the Gaels of Galway and Donegal, it’s the only thing that really matters this weekend.
The All-Ireland Minor Football Championship will throw in at 1.30pm on Sunday and there’s an array of talent that will be on show. Here’s the three we’ve earmarked to look out for.
Jason McGee (Donegal)
The talented midfielder has been an absolute giant for Donegal.
The county’s joint captain missed all of last year’s league campaign owing to his soccer commitments, where he has represented the Republic of Ireland at underage level.
But what an impact he has made on his return for a full season, leading the men from the hills back to Ulster glory and hitting crucial goals in their Ulster semi-final and All-Ireland quarter ties.
Desmond Conneely (Galway)
Donegal have a strong defensive unit but the Tribesmen have leaked just 1-25 in three championship games. Stephen Joyce has assembled a mean outfit that let very little through but most of that success is down to the deadly threat of Desmond Conneely at the other end.
The Moycullen full forward is in frightening form. He’s hit 1-7 from play in his last two outings for his county, a Connacht final and an All-Ireland quarter-final at that, and the Ulster men will have some job on their hands to keep him quiet.
Strong, balanced, unnervingly accurate, Conneely has a big future ahead of him. He’ll hope part of that is on the third Sunday of September.
Peadar Mogan (Donegal)
An unsung hero of sorts, Mogan wears number 13 but he plays all over the damn place.
As soon as the ball is thrown-in, he takes off into the middle of the field and beyond to help out wherever the hell he can. He’s a tireless worker that always happens to pop up in the right place at the right time and will be there time and again to snuff out opposition danger men and put his body on the line for the cause.
When Donegal turn the ball over, his job isn’t done. He springs into life and acts as one of the county’s biggest threats. A real symbol of consistency.
Minor players are embarking on their adult lives, many are about to finish school and start college, they have hopes and dreams and ambitions, but for this one moment in time, the Electric Ireland Minor Championships is the major thing in their lives. Follow the conversation at #GAAThisIsMajor.
