Urris manager Sean Paul Doherty noted a couple of defeats that have provided the backdrop to the Crampsey Park side’s surge into the Donegal JFC final.
Ulster Junior finalists four years ago, Urris are back in the county junior decider again.
Picture: Representatives from Urris and Red Hughs, with referee Robbie O’Donnell. Picture by Geraldine Diver.
But it has been a year in which Urris have had to ask questions of themselves. A League defeat by Naomh Colmcille ended their promotion bid from Division 4.
“We were devastated,” Doherty says.
“We lost out to the better team. Naomh Colmcille caught us. They had a bit more smarts about them. Straight away after that we regrouped really well and training ramped up.”
Doherty has taken a break from refereeing to take the manager’s job at Urris.
A Championship loss to Urris in Dooey shook Urris into gear.
Doherty says: “We walked into an ambush against Na Rossa. Maybe we were complacent. We just couldn’t lift it. That was a long run home.”
The return to action of Dean Kelly and Alan Friel have given Urris a big lift and Doherty says the attitude has been new and improved in 2018.
He says: “We’ve had a couple of barren years. We sat down at the start of the year and we asked for a big commitment. Numbers have been excellent. Other years, we were hampered by boys being away from home, but we’re in good shape and have built momentum.”
Listen to the full interview below …
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