Caoimhe Keon and Donegal hoping to upset the odds against Amagh in Ulster final

Caoimhe Keon and Donegal hoping to upset odds against Amagh

Donegal put their Ulster title on the line on Sunday as they take on Armagh in the decider at St Tiernach’s Park, Clones.

John McNulty’s side though will still go into the encounter as underdogs as they find themselves in a period of transition this season with a more youthful team than previous years.

Experienced players such as Karen Guthrie, Emer Gallagher, Yvonne Bonner, Niamh Hegarty, Tanya Kennedy and Geraldine and Nicole McLaughlin are no longer part of the set-up. 

But those high-profile departures mean opportunities have arisen for younger members of the panel, like Aodh Ruadh’s Caoimhe Keon to stake a claim. 

Speaking on her own club’s social media to Aodh Ruadh PRO John Hughes Keon, a medicine student, said: “I played U-16 and minor and I was enjoying that. I kinda was just playing club football then for a while. 

“It was going to college and playing with other girls from different counties, that really brought me on. 

“I got asked up to the senior squad then and it really started from there. At the start of the year, I’d exams before Christmas so I was just finding my feet. Thankfully it went well and I’ve played since.

“I just finished more exams there so I haven’t had too much time to think about the Ulster final and maybe that was a good thing.  

“It’s a game where we are definitely underdogs but we’re really looking forward to that challenge”. 

The Orchard County landed the Division 1 title after beating Kerry in the Division One final on 7 April at Croke Park while Donegal failed to bounce back from relegation in 2023 and will spend at least another season in the second tier. 

In last year's final Donegal stunned Armagh with a 1-10 to 0-9 win which ended Orchard hopes of a four-in-a-row.