Equal billing with Donegal men on Ulster final day something special - Temple Asokuh

After missing out on most of the National League campaign, Abigail Temple Asokuh is glad to be in the running to play a part in the Ladies Ulster final next Saturday against Armagh in Clones (3 pm)

The full-back injured her ankle against Roscommon at the end of February but is back and looking forward to the big game.

Speaking at the press launch for the Ladies final, Abigail is hoping that the supporters go early to Clones to support the Ladies in the curtain raiser to the men's final.

"It's great to have equal billing with the men and it's great coverage for us too. And what better team to go up against than Armagh in the Ulster final. It's where you want to be. Good for Donegal football too.

And while Donegal will again go in as underdogs Asokuh thinks it is a game that can showcase the young Donegal team.

"Definitely. Armagh is a top team. And we both know it will not be an easy battle. And the team that performs best on the day will come out on top.

"Last year we showed that we can keep up with them and it won't be an easy battle. But even before I came in it's always been like that."

While the league didn't go as well as planned, Asokuh feels Donegal are in a good place.

"I think we are in a good position actually. We didn't make it out of Division 2 but I think we were happy where we are; we secured our place for next year which is great. But going into the championship we have just been building on what we have been doing in the league.

"There are great positive vibes in the camp and I think it will get better during the week."

Asked if manager James Daly had any insides on the Armagh camp, she laughs: "Nah. He has been making some funny jokes but no inside information."

The Donegal defender was out for six weeks with a ruptured AFTL in her ankle and also had a partial CFL. But she says she has been pushing well in training and is happy to be back on the pitch.

The seven week break since the league, she feels, has been beneficial in their preparation. "It's funny talking to girls in college and saying we're going straight into the Ulster final. But I guess it gives us that bit of extra time to prepare.

"We went in as underdogs last year too and that game went to extra-time. I think it was a good way to go in that way last year. It'll be a great game to watch again on Saturday and hopefully we'll be able to bring the standards up again for it."

Asokuh's dad won a World U-17 Cup with Nigeria before coming to play with Finn Harps and he actually played a game of Gaelic football last week.

"He played last week (in goals) and let in a few goals and we got on to him about that. He will probably be watching on TV, I don't think he'll make it down.

"Mum and dad are very supportive. She is the coach in the house and I couldn't ask for anything more."

Asokuh only took up Gaelic football in Primary School and that continued at Secondary and with Sean MacCumhaill's before joining the county scene at minor level. Prior to that she mostly played soccer.

Now 19, it was a major shift in her sporting career in her early teens.

"Some of the girls did play soccer and Gaelic so I did know some of them. But not knowing the basics when you're a bit older; it was really starting off fresh. It was great fun and great craic learning something new.

"If I did have time I would go back to playing soccer. But at the moment time wouldn't allow, especially travelling from Dublin."

She has also been involved with DCU and was part of the squad which won the O'Connor Cup in March along with some county stars like Emma Duggan, Aisling Hanley, Kate Kenny.

In her third year with the county seniors she won an Ulster medal in her first year. She credits the likes of Emer Gallagher, Nicole McLaughlin, Niamh Carr and Evelyn McGinley as the players she looked up to when she came into the defence.

"They were great role models and Evelyn and Niamh are still there. It was great also to play with the minors that were coming in and there is a great bond there," said Asokuh.

She is hoping that Saturday's game will be the first double header of many.

"Double headers are great. We'll see how people feel about it after next Saturday. We are just as good and we have amazing players across the country, probably better than some of the men to be honest.

"It's just getting people out to those games and see how good we are. Keep them away from the pub, close them."