Dungloe's composure impressed Tony Boyle most 

Dungloe dug deep on Sunday away to Monaghan champions Tyholland to claim a brilliant 3-10 to 2-12 win and, in the process, book an Ulster JFC final spot. 

Tony Boyle’s girls were up by three at the changeover on a difference of 2-7 to 1-7. Ulitah Boyle and Zara Gillandersw both had the ball in the net early on at either end but another Dungloe maximum, this time from Patrice Boyle, helped keep Dungloe in the driving seat at the changeover. 

The Farney girls threw everything at the Donegal champions in the second period but a third Dungloe green flag, again supplied by Patrice Boyle, meant the visitors held on to claim a famous and historic win. 

Speaking after, boss Boyle said he found it hard to fathom and put into actual words just what this means to the management and players. 

“It’s just brilliant,” said Boyle. “To be fair to the girls, we were alot more composed than we were in the quarter-final last time out. 

“We started tentatively, they got the first two scores. But we responded well. We probably played our best football of the season for those 20 minutes right up to half-time. We were only three clear at the break but it could have been a wee bit more. 

“We spoke about the first ten minutes of the second-half having the potential to be the winning or the losing of the game and, to be fair to the girls, they hit 1-2 without reply and that was so impacting. That was the platform. 

“Tyholland got a goal from a close-range free late on but, like I said, the composure was brilliant”. 

With a late switch of venue for the clash, Dungloe had to instead head for Cremartin on Sunday morning. It meant a logistical rejig was needed but Boyle says that didn’t really impact on preparations. 

“We headed off at 9.30am instead as we only got word at 8 that the venue had changed But the girls were fine, even with the extra 25 minutes travelling. We’d a supporters coach up and they really made themselves heard. 

“When you come out the right side of things, you can look back on the day and really say it was just a brilliant experience and occasion.  The buzz is great. 

“Really, the target this season was the Donegal JFC. We wanted to progress up to Intermediate football. The thought was that anything on top of that would just be a bonus.

“But now we’ve got to this point, the mindset obviously changes. It’s a huge chance and opportunity for the girls and I know they’ll give it absolutely everything now over the next fortnight”.

Lavey of Derry now stand in Dungloe’s way in that Ulster decider. Boyle admits he knows little about the Oak Leafers but he and his management team of Ray Sweeney and Robert Wehrley will no doubt turn attention to that from early on this week. 

“We’ll look for a video but at this stage, there will be very little between the teams. Our problem, if you’d even call it that, is that we have our minors out in the first round of Ulster next weekend against St Enda’s of Omagh. 

“We’ve eight girls involved at senior but, like I say, it’s a lovely problem to have. So the hope it to manage that and get through it”.