MICHAEL MURPHY says that Donegal teams have to keep aiming high – and try to break down the barriers.
Murphy is manager of the Letterkenny Institute of Technology team, who lost their opening Ryan Cup game to Queen’s University last night in Convoy.
LyIT were level with eight minutes left before Queen’s pulled away in the closing minutes for a 3-12 to 1-11 win.
“It gives experience of what it’s like at that level,” Murphy told Donegal Daily/Donegal Sport Hub.
“Sometimes looking from afar in Donegal, we think that everything is new, blue and better in other places.
“When you try to break down the barriers, you put in the work, you get a committed group who enjoy it, maybe the gulf isn’t what we think.”
Liam Jackson’s goal in the second half helped bring LyIT back into a game that looked gone when they trailed 1-7 to 0-5 at half-time.
Murphy said: “We were really brave and that got us back in the game. The tide started to turn and we got a couple of big scores.
“We had the ball when the tide was turning, but lost the ball in contact. Getting caught on the break was the story of the day.
“We had a great, positive response. I’m delighted with the attitude of them. It’s a big step up from the Trench Cup level.”
Listen to the full interview below …