Donegal minors take on Down with All-Ireland final spot up for grabs  

Donegal are aiming to fire themselves through to an All-Ireland decider on Wednesday night when they face Leitrim in the Minor C championship semi-final, in Lisnaskea. (Throw-in 7.30)

After a barnstorming run through Ulster with big wins secured over Down,  Fermanagh and Derry hopes are high that this team is well equipped to go all the way. 

The side is managed by Declan McDermott from Moville who is in his first season in the role having taken over from Francie Martin, at the start of the year.

And though he is in his rookie season wearing the manager’s bid the new man has a wealth of experience having also worked with the county U-14s and U-16s in recent years.

“This group of girls have done well up through the age groups and the bulk of the team won the U-16 championship last season,” said McDermott. 

Donegal senior stars Abigail Temple Asokuh and Katie Dowds backbone a squad that has a lot of quality right through its 30-strong list. 

Donegal were relegated from the A championship last season and played and won the Ulster Minor Silver championship this time out with a big win over Down, in the Ulster Silver  final back in May.  

Dowds and Eva Gallagher scored the goals for the winners that afternoon in a dominant 5-11 to 1-5 victory. 

Dowds also chipped in with two points against the Mourne girls while Gallagher, Ava Walsh, Abbie McGranaghan, Rhiana McColgan, Aisling O’Neill and Nimah Boyle were also among the point scorers. 

Temple Asokuh, a rock on the edge of her own square, also turned in a ‘player of the match’ performance.  

McDermott explained: “We played very well against Down in the final and it was our best performance of the season so far, we had a lot of good performances all over the field. 

“We played them in the first game of the championship and it was a close and pretty even game and we won it in the end by four points.“

The side has had to endure an eight-week competitive break since lifting that title but McDermott hopes that ringrust will be easily shaken. However, training and a number of challenge games have bridged that gap. 

“The break was due to exams. We gave the girls a few weeks off after the final. But they are back the last four weeks or so and training has gone well and we managed to get a couple of challenge games.

“We played Steelstown from Derry on Friday night and we also played Termon seniors, which were two good workouts and we are all looking forward to Wednesday night, and Leitrim”.

Donegal squad: Aoibhin Randles (St Eunans); Ellie Ward (Dungloe), Abigail Temple Asoukuh (Sean MacCumhaills), Amy Porter (Carndonagh); Tara Rose Mahon (Buncrana), Sarah McGinley (Glenswilly, Niamh Harkin (Naomh Padraig, Muff); Ulitah Boyle (Dungloe), Rihana McColgan; Amy Walsh(Naomh Padraig, Muff), Eva Gallagher (Kilcar) Cora Doherty (Naomh Conaill); Abbie McGranaghan (Robert Emmets) Aisling O’Neill (Malin), Rhiana McCready(Dungloe). Claire Diver (Dungloe), Alisha Gallagher (Letterkenny Gaels), Katie Dowds (Sean MacCumhaills) Emma Neeson (Red Hughs), Louise Doherty(Letterkenny Gaels), Meabh McAteer (Gaeil Fhanada), Mia Bennett (Ardara), Niamh Boyle (Naomh Columba), Sarah O’Donnell (Dungloe), Síle Ní Fhearraigh(Gaoth Dobhair), Iseult Ní  Mhaithúa (Gaeil Fhanada); Tara Geoghegan (Dungloe), Rebecca Campbell (Sean MacCumhaills), Clodagh O’Connor (Letterkenny Gaels), Emily Boyce (Sean MacCumhaills). 

Manager: Declan McDermott; coach Barney Curran; mentors: Tony Boyle, Sean Boyce, Barry Dowds, S&C coach Sean Gallagher.