Donegal minor manager Gary Duffy has called on the Ulster Council to reinstate minor championship games as curtain-raisers to the senior championship.
Until the creation of the under-17 grade last year, minor fixtures were traditionally always the scene-setters for the senior championship games.
The change means that the Ulster MFC is now played out in front of low attendances, such as that which turned out on Saturday evening to see Duffy’s Donegal overcome Armagh at Sean MacCumhaill Park.
“A knee-jerk decision was made on that,” Duffy told Donegal Daily/Donegal Sport Hub.
“The Ulster Minor Championship had a great tradition of playing before senior games. That’s been taken away from the players now.
“That would have been a tasty contest before a senior game.
“A lot of people looked forward to seeing the minor games before the seniors. I’d like to see them reflect on the decision and look at it.”
Donegal are back in action this weekend against Cavan and Duffy is hopeful that Senan Rooney, forced off on Saturday evening, will be available.
“We’re waiting on word back, but hopefully he’ll be ready,” Duffy said.
Sub Shane Monaghan struck two goals and Johnny McGroddy landed nine points as Donegal prevailed.
Duffy said: “It was a pressure valve in there, but they delivered.
“They dug deep. They knew what they had to do and they didn’t want to leave anything behind them.
“Our necks were on the line and we knew we had to put on a big performance on our home patch. They responded well.”
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