Donegal ladies aiming to make home comforts count - Niamh Carr

Niamh Carr agrees that Donegal have to start picking up league points if they’re to fend off the threat of relegation from the LGFA’s top tier. 

Maxi Curran has taken an experimental approach to matters so far and while Donegal have been competitive in their three outings to date, they have yet to pick up a single point. 

No one will be panicking inside the Donegal set-up just yet. With so many of  their most influential stars still underwraps, both the squad and management know they’ll be rolling out that heavier artillery at some stage. 

Donegal made the NFL Division 1 decider last term and also propelled themselves all the way to the last four in the All-Ireland series. On both occasions, they were most unfortunate not to get over the line.

To date, the side has been edged out by the likes of Kerry, Galway and Meath. Next up for Donegal is a clash with Waterford in Letterkenny on Sunday (throw-in, 1pm). The weekend’s opposition currently have four points on the board with victory secured over Mayo, the points shared against Cork while their reversal was a single point loss to Kerry.   

Milford ace Carr says the group can see the wood from the trees at this moment and are well aware that the bigger picture is being ready to throw absolutely everything they have at championship. 

“Waterford are going well so far,” she said. “We’ve really been focusing on ourselves in the lead-in. But this is a home game and at the start of the year we knew our home games were going to be super important. 

“The way things have panned out since, this one has become even more crucial. Every game so far we’ve been looking at performance, performance, performance. But now we are under a little bit of pressure. Sunday is going to be really important for that very reason.

“I don’t think there has been any stage where the management has felt disappointed in our efforts. And there has been plenty to take from each game. It’s been a very inexperienced team. A lot of those girls in there are holding their own - exceeding expectations in many regards. 

“Maxi knows exactly what he’s looking for in that sense. Coming into the latter part of the league and, of course, championship, the group will reap the benefits of all that because we will have a much stronger squad as a result”.   

Carr is a secondary school teacher at Newpark Comprehensive School, Blackrock. She continues to commute to and from Dublin in order to play and train with the squad. Currently on her midterm break, she says Donegal have to make home advantage count on Sunday in O’Donnell Park. 

“It’s hectic but you just get on with it. Over the last few weeks, you see others coming back into the panel and you see it all gelling together. We’re in a very good place that way. There is an experienced core there that really pushes the whole  thing on. They’re inspirational really. 

“It’s competitive and I’ve no doubt we’ll reap the rewards of that in the weeks and months ahead as all that comes together”.