Aoife McColgan: Donegal need to start picking up points

Aoife McColgan says Donegal’s young guns have acquitted themselves so well to date but adds that the side needs to start picking up NFL points if they’re to avoid a relegation scrap. 

The Malin clubwoman and her teammates suffered a 1-7 to 0-5 loss to Meath in Letterkenny on Saturday - their second straight defeat in Division 1. 

Still, Maxi Curran has primarily used fringe players so far with many of his more experienced and heavier artillery being kept under wraps. 

Despite that, Donegal held  their own for large periods of the weekend’s clash against the Royalettes. But a 47th minute Meath goal - which was fortuitous in the extreme - eventually proved to be the side’s undoing. 

There wasn’t much McColgan could do about that concession but she was still frustrated about it after. 

“That one was disappointing - we felt the game was there for the taking. We were very close to them all the way up until around the midpoint of the second-half. The goal was the big sucker punch. 

“We went in at half-time and it was all very positive. We were in a good place. But the goal itself. It was one of those… I’ve stepped off the line a little too early and the flight caught me out. So I’m bitterly disappointed.

“I’ll watch it back and I’ll see what adjustments can be made. There is learning to be taken from every day you go out”. 

Donegal will make the long trek to Kerry this coming Saturday and McColgan admits points need to start being pinned to the board from this point on. 

“Relegation is something you really want to avoid - you want to stay in the top flight.  The pressure is on now after a second defeat. The performances, particularly with the amount of young girls we’re integrating, they have been encouraging. 

“But we really need to start picking up points from this point on. We’ve a week to regroup ahead of what’s a long trip down to Kerry”. 

Regardless of how they finish up in the league, when Donegal do eventually have all their aces back in their pack, McColgan insists the aims for 2023 remain the exact same.  

“You play football to win. Silverware, we feel, is always up for grabs now for Donegal. That’s the level we’ve got to. Last year we were there or thereabouts for all the major trophies. We want to push on now as we know we’re not far off. 

“We haven’t been turning up on bad winter nights in the likes of December and January not to be setting the bar high”.