Shannon McGroddy determined to help push Na Dunaibh potential to full capacity

Shannon McGroddy couldn’t be prouder of her young Na Dunaibh teammates as they prepare for their first ever shot at Ulster glory this Saturday away to Butlersbridge (throw-in, 2pm).

McGroddy has seen and done it all with Donegal but she’s also a provincial and All-Ireland club SFC winner.

Once upon a time, Downings didn’t have an adult ladies side and McGroddy, a primary teacher at Portlean NS in Kilmacrennan, had to travel to Termon to compete at that level.

And that famous crop would create their own piece of history with a clean sweep of the board in 2014.

Watching her celebrate Na Dunaibh’s own record achievement a fortnight ago in Letterkenny, you’d never have guessed just how decorated her mantlepiece was back at home.

Na Dunaibh coasted to a first ever Junior A title in O’Donnell Park with a 6-12 to 0-9 demolition of Naomh Padraig, Uisce Chaoin.

And while a Junior A title looks modest in comparison to those previous exploits, it’s the collective feat that probably makes it every bit, if not more special as it was achieved with her home parish.

Reflecting back on 2014, the player says it was an amazing time but once the opportunity to field a senior ladies side in Downings for the first time ever looked a reality, the wanderer made an immediate return.

“We didn’t have a ladies senior team at the time,” she told DonegalLive. “We’d an underage structure that was really just in its infancy.

“So off I went to Termon. But to be fair, those girls were brilliant and so accommodating. I was only 18 in 2014 and it was this incredible journey that just continued to gather momentum.

“It was just such an achievement. It’s a special memory and time that I’m so grateful to have experienced.

“Just the standard that was aspired to and reached, you’re talking about players like Geraldine McLaughlin, Nicole McLaughlin, Emer Gallagher and so on.

“They really took me under my wing and I’ll always appreciate that.”

With their underage efforts beginning to bear fruit, the numbers were crunched in late 2016 and it quickly became apparent that Downings potentially had the bones of an adult squad.

“I returned to Downings in 2017 and that was when we first set a senior team up. The underage work was coming to fruition as girls progressed up the ranks.

“I was so excited to get back to Downings and look to maybe help lead that out. There probably was that sense that you really wanted to be a part of that and help drive it on.

“Termon are at such a level still but I kinda felt a sense of responsibility even, with the club putting so much into the underage, to get on board right away.

“And it’s been brilliant. It’s just grown from strength to strength”.

It slowly started to come together and there were some big junctures along the way. But McGroddy is in no doubt that their Junior A success can now act as a springboard onto even bigger and better things.

“We lifted a Junior B title a few years back but this was a big one - it feels like a real breakthrough. We got to two Junior finals before and lost both, Killybegs (2020) and Dungloe last year.

“We’ve been knocking on the door for quite a while and it was just so frustrating that we just couldn’t get over the line. That’s why this felt so special, because of the disappointments in the past.

“We’ve gone up the ranks in league football and have made it to Division 1 the last two years.

“It’s a different level and I think maybe it’s sort of hardened us and brought just that wee bit more experience.

“Going to the likes of Termon and Glenfin - that’s where you learn and improve. Even in terms of strength and conditioning and just the structures the club has put in place, it’s also moved the thing along that extra nudge”.

With Barney Curran, Doy McGroddy and Charles Coyle in the dugout, Downings have been making the most of the lead-in to the weekend.

The weather has been far from kind but McGroddy says the mood around the squad is excellent.

“It’s brilliant and to still be showing up for training at this time of year is a sign that you’re achieving.

“It’s colder, it’s wetter, windier even but no one is complaining. It’s given people something to talk about and there is a lovely wee buzz”.

In regards to Butlersbridge, McGroddy says they’ve had a nosy at them and they’re very impressive.

The Breffni champions obliterated Cavan Gaels in their own county final by 5-13 to 0-8 so the task at hand looks formidable to say the least.

“It was streamed on TV - the Cavan final - so we were able to have a look at that. Genuinely, for us, we see this as bonus territory.

“Don’t get me wrong, we aim to throw everything we have at it. But the Junior A was a big moment that just sort of represented real progress.

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“We want to keep the ball rolling at the weekend. They are a physical team and they are very well set up. So we will really have to think about how we break that down”.

Meanwhile, Na Dunaibh’s Helicopter Drop fundraiser scheduled to take place on Saturday has now been punished back to December 1.