Galway minor football manager Donal O'Fatharta.
By Cian O’Connell
Since emerging as a talented youngster in An Spideal Donal O’Fatharta has given significant service to the maroon and white football cause.
Galway return to the All Ireland minor decider on Sunday with O’Fatharta satisfied by how an emerging crop of teenagers have dealt with the various challenges faced throughout an interesting campaign.
That the summer was packed with matches added greatly to the adventure with O’Fatharta delighted that Connacht GAA opted for a round robin format in 2018.
“Definitely from a development point of view and I said it at the beginning of the year that the round robin format is great,” O’Fatharta says.
“It gives information to the Under 20 manager going forward, it is great for that because you get a look at guys. In the old system which we benefited from and it didn't benefit us at times where you could play one match and just be gone.
“You had to get to a Connacht Final to get a second chance, it wasn't fair really. If you got through your first match you were delighted, one of your main rivals could have been gone, but now to win a Connacht Final you might have to beat a team twice. That is good, it is real development, guys getting tested.
“As a management it tests us getting different challenges when you are playing a team that knows you well. So it has been good. You get information about guys that you wouldn't have maybe in the other system.
“It is all positive at the moment because we have come through a couple of games after that. We got a run out in Croke Park which was great and it is nice to get another run out the next day. It is brilliant for the guys, getting new challenges every week, and that is what we want.”
Having previously served as a selector in All Ireland minor and Under 21 winning campaigns under Alan Mulholland, former senior selector O’Fatharta is completely aware of the intricacies of the inter-county arena.
Due to the volume of matches more players are being afforded opportunities which is beneficial to the health of the game in Galway. “Absolutely and as with most teams our in house games are very, very important to us,” O’Fatharta admits.
Galway manager Donal O'Fatharta shakes hands with Meath boss Joe Treanor after the Electric Ireland Minor Championship Semi-Final at Croke Park.
“Our team and 24 has been changing based on those games. We have seen guys that probably weren't on our radar at the start of the year all of a sudden pushing on to the 24 and have made contributions against Clare and Meath the last day. It just goes to show if the system is right and if there is plenty of games for guys - because they just want to play games - that they will flourish and develop.
“Our guys have developed a lot over the last eight months from January. They've got a great opportunity to develop.
“It finishes on Sunday, of course, but hopefully we will leave them with something that they can take into their football careers whether it is just with their clubs because everyone can't go on to inter-county. Hopefully they have all benefited from the experience.
“We all want to win and all of that, but at this level and age group it is important that guys are experiencing development, experiencing big days out like the next day and last day against Meath.
“So to be competing at All Ireland stage is important. With the new changes with the round robin we get a lot of games in Connacht anyway so that is good, but also once you get to a Quarter-Final, Semi-Final, and Final that is another part of it as well.”
Being exposed to a serious inter-county set-up should also benefit the players when they feature for their clubs according to O’Fatharta. “I think it is important for Galway or any team to be getting to the latter stages because you are in the system then,” O’Fatharta adds.
“The system is important because guys are getting looked after, they are getting access to physios, getting access to strength and conditioning, stuff like that benefits Galway football.
“Whether it is club or county going forward that is what it is about. We all can't play county, but the club system has to be very good as well, the club is very important and hopefully we can give guys back in a better state than what they came in maybe.
“That can only benefit Galway football going forward. To get to the latter stages, to get length out of your year is important for development.”
Kerry have enjoyed a hugely productive stint in the minor ranks winning four in a row and it is precisely the environment in which Galway want to examine how far they have travelled themselves.
Galway midfielder Paul Kelly is also an Irish U18 basketball international.
“Exactly, this Kerry team has been touted along the way,” O’Fatharta remarks. “You have an idea with development squads all the way up.
“With the squads nowadays you get an inkling from the squads at 14s, 15s, 16s all the way up with guys playing tournaments. We have connections with Kerry and Cork so you have tournaments going on, we have our own stuff in Connacht.
“This Kerry team, like most Kerry teams would be competitive at that age. This team has been very strong all the way through, they are going for five in a row at minor, they don't need me to talk them up. They are very strong.”
O’Fatharta was impressed with how Kerry survived despite a gritty Monaghan rally at the penultimate stage. “They are a hardworking team,” O’Fatharta states. “Kerry don't get credit for that having watched them against Monaghan in the flesh again. Very, very hardworking, can get guys behind the ball and obviously have the forwards to hurt any team.
“We will find it difficult to keep them out which will be the plan as much as we can. They have got talent all over the place and from what I've seen they have nine forwards and out of those they pick six with three to come on. They are strong, but we have to worry about ourselves to get performances from our own guys.”
For the All Ireland Semi-Final against Meath 13 different clubs in Galway were represented in the matchday panel of 24 which is another little sign of the work being carried out across the county.
“Absolutely, there is a lot of good coaching going on in development squads,” O’Fatharta admits. “I have been involved in development squads a long time myself and our management team would have been largely working with development squads for a long time.
“There is a lot of good work going on in coaching in Galway. We have guys from Clifden and Ballinasloe which is a huge spread and you have a lot of good work going on at underage level in clubs.
“From my own perspective we mightn't have been coached until maybe sixth class in national school, but now there is so much good coaching going on from an early age. That is testament to people who put in the work at development squad level and at club level which is great to see.
“You see lads coming into us in good shape and their skills are good. People give out about football, but a lot of the skills you'll see the next day - these are very skilful guys. It is great to see clubs being represented all over the county.” O’Fatharta is quietly, but effectively helping them on their sporting journeys.
