Donegal ladies continue to plan for Galway league opener

Donegal ladies continue their preparations for their National League opener away to Galway on Sunday, January 22. 

Maxi Curran’s side will then host All-Ireland champions Meath on January 29. Coincidentally, the Donegal senior men’s side also welcome Sam Maguire holders Kerry to the north west that same weekend. 

Donegal were Division 1 finalists and All-Ireland semi-finalists in 2022 and they will face a number of distant league treks to the likes of Kerry and Cork in February. 

Current LGFA Player of the Year and Donegal captain Niamh McLaughlin, as well as a number of other experienced campaigners, won’t feature in the early stages of the league and boss Maxi Curran says Emer Gallagher will deputise in her absence. 

“Given the age profile of some of the girls, we’ll give them some extra time off in the early stage of the league,” said Curran. “It’s an opportunity to have a look at some of the younger and less experienced girls. 

“It’s a difficult level to come in at but that will be the approach. And listen, we’ve seen in the past a number of girls have stood up and were counted simply because they were given that chance, in at the deep end.

“We’d a very useful runout against Tyrone in Letterkenny at the weekend and we were very happy with the girls that got game time there”. 

Termon star Gallagher of course missed the majority of last season because of a cruciate ligament tear. However, she did return late on in the championship against both Dublin and Meath. Because of that lay-off she’ll feature from the very off this time out.  

Curran explained: “Emer will captain the side for the early part of the league in Niamh’s absence. She’ll also be vice-captain for the year".