LUKE McGlynn says the Donegal minors will have to be at their ‘very best’ when they take on Monaghan on Wednesday night in Clones.
Donegal face the Farney (St Tiernach’s Park, 8pm) on the back of a 26-point drubbing of Antrim last week in Ballybofey.
Glenfin man McGlynn is the Donegal captain and helped to lead the way with six points in the preliminary round match.
“It is such an honour to captain your county, but this group of lads is full of captains and full of leaders.
“Luke (Barrett, Donegal manager) told me I was captain about a month ago and it was a real buzz for my family, myself and my club in Glenfin.
“I don’t feel any extra pressure as we have so many leaders out there and they set their own standards.”
Donegal won by 4-22 to 0-8 and McGlynn showed real leadership in offloading for Kevin McCormack to palm in a goal late in the game. On a night when his side was enjoying a cakewalk, many players would’ve gone alone, but McGlynn maintained the good habits.
He said: “I laid it off for Kevin McCormack at the end and when a man is in the best position you just give him the ball and that is how you win games.
“You might be tempted to go yourself, but you must always do what’s best for the team”.
McGlynn was on the Donegal minor squad in 2020, losing to Tyrone in December after the Covid-disrupted summer.
Now, the class of 2021 have got off the mark, but face a stiff challenge in Clones on Wednesday.
McGlynn said: “This is my second year and losing last year was a bitter pill to swallow but those lads have put in serious work, and we were determined not to let the same thing happen.
“It is only natural that you might be a bit nervous at the start but once we settled, we took off and you have to remember that this was the first time that some of these boys ever wore a Donegal jersey.
“Recovery is a big one for us as we will need to be at our very best against Monaghan.”
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