Moville have nothing to lose against 'big favourites' Termon says Niamh Hegarty

Niamh Hegarty says Moville have nothing to lose as they look to upset considerable odds against reigning Donegal LGFA SFC title holders Termon on Sunday.

Moville are without the considerable services of Donegal captain Niamh McLaughlin who is currently starring in the AFLW with Gold Coast Suns.

Bláthnáid McLaughlin is another high-profile absentee and the experienced Hegarty says even reaching a county final this term is an achievement in itself.

Moville - who last lifted the title in 2016 - overcame St Eunan’s at the weekend in O’Donnell Park on a scoreline of 1-9 to 0-7.

The Carrick Field side were in control for the most part in Letterkenny, leading 0-5 to 0-1 at half-time against a St Eunan’s team who will rue a succession of wides.

They totted up seven in the first half and four more in part two, although credit for that would go to the Inishowen outfit’s stern defence in front of player-manager Sarah Faulkner.

Hegarty’s goal on 43 minutes was quality, winning the ball on the sideline in front of the stand and although there were complaints from the home crowd that the ball was out, she seemed to do everything just right.

Keeping the ball in and on the run inside, her shot was true and clipped the underside of the crossbar and goalkeeper Aoibhin Randles to go in. That made the score 1-6 to 0-4 and Moville saw it home from there.

Looking ahead to Sunday’s tangle, back in O’Donnell Park, Hegarty says her young teammates have already exceeded expectations this season.

“We’re delighted - that was the goal at the start of the season - to get to a final. There’s no doubt Termon are going to be a big ask. But we’ll give it our best shot.

“But this in itself, it’s a great achievement for the girls”.

Going into Saturday morning’s semi-final encounter, Hegarty admits that St Eunan’s would have fancied their chances of progression.

“We didn’t play St Eunan’s this season so it was hard to know what to expect. But we played them last year in the group stages and they beat us at home.

“They are a very good side but we took our chances and that probably was the difference today”.

Looking forward to Sunday and her side’s chances of stopping Termon marching towards ‘three-in-a-row’, she explained: “Termon will be big favourites so we go into the game with nothing to lose. There is no real pressure on us so we just have to go and try our best”.