Donegal looking to shed ‘transitional’ shackles and make their own mark

Donegal face Cavan in the Lidl Ladies NFL Division 2 decider in Clones on Saturday with a bit of a point to prove.

James Daly’s side lost out to the Breffni girls in Fr Tierney Park, Ballyshannon, back in February on a day that the hosts really only had themselves to blame for that 1-6 to 0-7 reversal.

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Donegal got things back on track though, and their recent win over Wexford in Letterkenny helped not only push them up to Division 1 but, also secured another shot at Cavan in the second-tier decider.

Captain Rosin Rodgers says with the pressure now off and the early-season objective achieved, they can go all out at St Tiernach’s Park.

“This season has gone well enough for us so far. Coming off the back of the Tipperary result, it is never nice to lose.

“We got another chance against Wexford and we’re into Division 1 now and promotion has been secured.

“The final against Cavan, it’s nice to be looking forward to testing ourselves against them again in a big game.

“Cavan are undefeated in the league for a reason. They are a very good team. The goal in the first couple of minutes in Ballyshannon meant we were chasing our tail for long periods.

“There was only a kick in it at the end but credit where credit is due, Cavan came to Ballyshannon and took the win.

“This weekend is about us and what improvements we can make to see if we can flip that all in our favour in Clones.

“It will be a tight one and one we’ll just have to make sure we’re ready for. We feel from the experience gained over the last two years that we are good enough to compete in Division 1.

“It would be lovely to come home with a bit of silverware at the end of it. If we were told back in December we’d be promoted, we’d have taken it there and then. So to take a cup back down the road would be the cherry on top”.

It’s well documented that Donegal are a young side, in real transition. However, the Naomh Muire club woman says that development will only be accelerated by playing Division 1 football.

“It’s amazing. We have been building a lot the last two seasons. We really targeted getting back up to Division 1.

“If you want to improve and move on as a team, we need to play in Division 1 against all the top teams.

“This was the aim at the very outset, promotion I mean. But to be looking forward to a league final as well is a great reward for the girls’ hard work”.

Armagh native James Daly is now into his second season at the Donegal helm and with the likes of Bernard McGeehan and Karen Guthrie as back up on the line, progress has been nice and steady.

But Rodgers says some silverware for this inexperienced cluster would mark significant progress and, at the same time, move the group on from transition and development talk.

But with AFLW star Aisling Sheridan back in the mix for the opposition, Rodgers says it shows just how determined the Breffni girls are to make that same leap as Division 2 champions.

“Aisling coming back, that has been huge for them. It goes to show how much it means to players to put that jersey on and look to progress our counties on.

“There is very little between the teams, so a little further down the line, hopefully with the weather a little kinder, Sunday will be a really good contest”.

With two Ulster sides involved, the sensible and practical decision was to hold the second-tier decider inside the province. And Rodgers says that will only add to the sense of occasion.

“It’s great that the game is in Clones,” Rodgers added. “There is something special about the venue. It’s where you always dream of playing.

“It holds special memories of finals won and lost so hopefully we can come out on the right side of all of that this time out”.
Rodgers says leading her county out at the home of Ulster football will be an honour and it’s a role that she really seems to be thriving in.

“I remember when I first came into the set-up and the first person I spoke to was Karen Guthrie. I remember her taking me under my wing and making sure I was being looked after and had everything I needed.

“I was in with my role models, girls I’d looked up to for so many years. They were such established players, in their 30s and just so assured and confident.

“That’s kind of flipped with this new group. The older players are only really in their mid-20s, the likes of myself Susanne White, Bláithnaid McLaughlin, Niamh Boyle and Niamh Carr… we’re the ones now being looked upon to help out the younger girls.

“There is that dynamic where we’re still looking to take a lot of learnings ourselves at the same time.

“So you do lean on all the wee things you picked up from those older girls we were so lucky to have around us when we were younger”.

Finally, Rodgers says she’s a big fan of the new playing rules. Having seen the impact they had on the men’s game, she expects the pace to really pick up in the LGFA come championship and summer, as the pitches firm and the ball is much drier.

“Even in the first year in men’s football, the tweaks just added so much to the game as spectacles.

“It was refreshing and it just revitalised the whole thing. The pace, the ‘solo and go’ it just meant games really opened up.

“And you can see throughout our league, the games are at pace and the three inside, three back and middle eight, there is more physicality and athleticism involved.

“It’s early days and it’s exciting to see how all of that will further develop”.