Donegal getting back to basics - Aoife McColgan

Aoife McColgan says Donegal are making the most of their three-week break following their heavy NFL defeat to Cork.

Five rounds in and Donegal remain rooted to the bottom of Division 1 having failed to pick up a single point to date. However, it was the manner of their 5-11 to 0-1 drubbing at the hands of the Rebelettes that will have concerned boss Maxi Curran most the Sunday before last.

Donegal have decided to use this NFL campaign to blood a whole host of fresh faces and, at the same time, also give those on the fringes of last term some extra competitive minutes.

It’s a ‘looking at the bigger picture’ approach that Curran and his management team will no doubt hope strengthens their squad in time for the start of the Ulster Championship. When that does roll around, Donegal will have serious designs on it.

Last season, a disastrous late capitulation against Armagh handed the Orchard girls a title that on the day, they really didn’t deserve. Still, that setback galvanised Donegal and pushed them all the way to an All-Ireland semi-final.

And with a little more luck that time out, they could easily have toppled Meath - who would go on to claim back to back championships. McColgan is experienced enough to see the wood from the trees at this moment in time.

And the Malin club girl insists that Donegal will have their house in order by the time the real business rolls around.

“The break is giving us a good opportunity to reflect on all of that, not just the Cork game but everything to date. This is a learning curve. And we’re all in that boat, myself included. Cork was a tough lesson.

“At this level, when you’re turned over in attack it can be ruthless down the other end on the counter. But the young girls that have come in have been absolutely brilliant. I can’t speak any higher of them.

“We’ve all been there - by that I mean coming into a Donegal senior set up as a teenager, a young girl. Young Abigail (Temple Asoko) came in for her first start in Cork. She was excellent. Katie Dowds has played most of our games. There is a bigger picture to what we’re trying to do”.

McColgan explains that senior football can come very early in the LGFA with many making that significant step up at just 16.

“That’s perhaps the big difference from the GAA. I came in myself at 16. You’re so young and the learning curve is that much steeper because of it. But it’s a brilliant experience as well. Emer Gallagher, Nicole McLaughlin, Niamh McLaughlin, those established senior stars were the exact same.

“Look at the likes of Karen Guthrie and Yvonne Bonner, they were all in with the Donegal senior football starting team from an even younger age. It’s a massive responsibility but, at the end of the day, they have to appreciate that they are allowed and they are expected to make mistakes.

“It’s great to listen to and hear those really experienced girls, as well as Maxi and the management team, talking and encouraging this new crop on. We’ll aim to turn a corner in these last two games but the league will come and go. It certainly won’t have an impact on our championship ambitions”.

After last term, Donegal would have been viewed as one of the top four in the country. And with such a large chunk of their first choice side still absent, that probably won’t change too much if they do have the likes of Karen Guthrie, Yvonne Bonner, Niamh McLaughlin, Katy Herron and Geradline McLaughlin, to name but a few, back in tow.

“A number of these girls will step up to the plate and we’ll have others coming back in. I always say, you play football to win. It’s not clicking for us at the moment but summer football and winter football are two very different things.

“We’re looking forward to all of that. The Ulster championship is the first one. And that’s one that has really stung in the last few years. Armagh, last year, it was such a disappointing day. But there is learning to take. Game management, that little bit of control in the final 10 to 15 minutes, that’s where we let ourselves down.

“Ourselves, Cavan and Armagh are involved in a round robin format there. It’ll be a real battle. But we’ve so much to look forward to and work on between then and now. The heads are up and it’s all very positive”.