Donegal Ladies chasing a first Tier 1 minor title in over a decade 

Donegal are chasing a first Ulster Ladies Tier I Minor Football Championship  in over a decade when they face Cavan on Saturday in Silverbridge, Armagh. (Throw-in 3 pm).

The final is a repeat of the 2013 final when current Irish soccer international Amber Barrett scored 4-1 off the bench in the 6-6 to 2-8 victory over the Breffni Blues. 

That  final was played in Ballyconnell, Cavan.

The sides have met already this year with Cavan the victors.

“They beat us by nine or ten points in the second round in Cavan. There was very little between us that day. But they scored a couple of late goals to pull away in the closing stages,” said Donegal manager, Declan McDermott.

Reigning Tier 2 champions and All-Ireland C champions from last season, Donegal made the step up to the top flight this season and are back in the county’s first Tier I final since 2019, when they lost to Monaghan in Killyclogher.

The team of 2024 have taken the step up in their stride, winning four of their five games. The only blemish  was the  defeat to Saturday’s opposition. 

“We beat Monaghan, Armagh, Tyrone and Antrim, the only game we lost was to Cavan, in Cavan,” says Moville man McDermott, who  is in his second season guiding the team’s fortunes. 

“We had big wins over Tyrone, Armagh and Antrim afterwards and we feel we learned a good bit about Cavan from that second round game. “ 

Donegal opened their campaign with a 4-10 to 0-7 win over Monaghan, in Ballybofey. 

Cavan take an unbeaten run into the final following big score wins over Armagh, Tyrone and Antrim as well as that victory over Donegal.

“Cavan are a good side and have done well at underage in recent years.”

The Donegal challenge is backboned by county seniors Katie Dowds and Eva Gallagher along with Mia Bennett, Rhianna McColgan, Ava Walsh, Ulitah Boyle, Rhianna McCready and Aisling O’Neill who have been the standout players so far in the campaign.  

“In all, up to ten of last year’s All-Ireland squad are back again this season and chasing more silverware.”

McDermott has reported a clean bill of health and a fully fit squad. But the Moville man does not rule out making a number of changes to the starting 15 from last time out.

“We learned a good bit about Cavan, the day we played them and we may make a couple of changes to counter Cavan. It is a case of horses for courses,” insists the Donegal boss, who is hoping to end an 11 season barren harvest. 

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