Donegal minors ready for championship step up in class - Declan McDermott 

Donegal get their Ulster minor championship campaign off the mark this Saturday with a home clash against Monaghan at Sean MacCumhaill Park, Ballybofey. 

The outing is the first of five games in the championship and only one of two games the Declan McDermott-managed side have on home soil. 

The other local fixture is against Armagh. The away ties see Donegal go to Cavan, Tyrone and Antrim. 

Donegal, the reigning Tier 2 Ulster and C All-Ireland champions from last season, are playing in the top tier of the provincial championship this time out.

“We were promoted this season on the back of last year's All-Ireland so it is a step-up playing against all the top teams in Ulster,” said the Donegal boss.

“Apart from Aoibhin Randles and Abigail Temple Asokuh all the rest of the girls from last year are back again this year. 

“So we feel we have a strong squad. Monaghan will be a good test on Saturday. They are reigning Tier I champions but, the reality is, there are no easy games at this level and the fact that three of them are away make it a little more tricky”. 

The championship is run in a league format with the top two teams qualifying for the Tier 1 final. 

The second and third placed teams compete for the Tier 2 title while the fourth, fifth and sixth placed teams play-off to determine the Tier 3 champions.

Barney Curran is the team coach/ trainer, Aoife McColgan is the goalkeeper coach, Tony Boyle, Barry Dowds, Samantha  Mahon, Maura McCrudden and Gabriel Gallagher make up the management team, while Shaun Gallagher is the strength and conditioning coach.

“We have been together since the beginning of November and we have a good preseason behind us. 

“We have also played a number of challenge games including against the county seniors and we did  well in those games. So we are all set to go.”   

Donegal squad: Mia Bennett, Rionach Doherty (Ardara); Tara Rose Mahon (Buncrana); Kerry McCready (St Mary’s, Convoy); Ava Caulfield, Ellie Ward, Rhianna McCready Ulitah Boyle (Dungloe); Meabh McAteer, Rachel Friel (Fanad Gaels); Kate Mullin, Sara Thomas  (Four Masters); Maria Ní Gallachoir, Neassa Nic Phaidin (Gaoth Dobhair); Eva Gallagher, Maria Diver Kilcar); Alisha Gallagher (Letterkenny Gaels); Aisling O’Neill (Malin); Erin Leech (Moville); Ava Walsh, Rhianna McColgan (Naomh Padraig, Uisce Chaoin); Alanna Boyle (Naomh Columba); Cora Doherty, Eve Boyle Carr (Naomh Conaill); Katie Dowds, Emily Boyce, Rebecca Campbell (Sean MacCumhaills); Caithlin Fletcher, Lucy McKeever (St Eunans); Lucy Ward (St Naul’s); Meave Brady, Niamh Bonner, Siobhan Cameron (Termon).