St Eunan’s and Glenfin set to face off in ladies U-21 decider

St Eunan’s and Glenfin will contest the inaugural Donegal LGFA U-21 final this Sunday morning in Killygordon (throw-in 11am). 

The Cathedral girls overcame the challenge of Aodh Ruadh in their semi-final clash on a scoreline of 1-14 to 1-5  while Pairc Taoibhoige residents Glenfin downed Naomh Conaill 2-7 to 1-4 in the other last four clash. 

Kaneshia McKinney, who is part of the St Eunan’s backroom team, says it’s a young Letterkenny squad and that reaching the U-21 final is, in itself, a fine achievement. 

St Eunan’s bypassed Naomh Columba in the opening round and secured a bye in the last eight after Red Hughs failed to field. McKinney admits they’re going to have to find their best performance of the season to down favourites Glenfin. 

“Even though it’s U-21, we’ve a relatively young squad,” she said. “We’ve used a good few girls that might not yet have got that much game-time at senior. We are a team in transition and we’re looking to build at senior. 

The Glenfin U-21 side that will take on St Eunan's in Sunday final. 

“We’d have some U-16s that would be in consideration for our starting XV. And we also have a good few girls in that U-21 bracket that aren’t necessarily starting at senior. 

“So this is a great opportunity for all those girls to get game-time and extra experience as we look to progress the entire thing on. That’s the overall approach for us as a club.”

If  Alan McConnell’s girls are to pull off the upset, they’re going to need big hours from the likes of Sinead McIntyre, Sophie McFeely, Laura Feely and Shauna Higgans.  

Meanwhile, as well as Naomh Conaill, Benji O’Mera’s Glenfin also saw off the likes of St Naul’s and Termon along the way. 

Katie Long, Danielle McGinley,  Jamie Lee McMahon and  Brenda Carr are the dangerwomen in the Glenfin line-up. But McGinley says there is a real balance to their squad ahead of this decider. 

And with a large chunk of the squad also part of the senior ranks in Glenfin, they’re determined to make up for some big disappointments earlier on in the campaign at that level.  

“Most of us would have been involved in both those Termon losses, the league and county finals. We’ve good experience, even at U-21 level. It would be lovely to get over the line at the weekend for a number of reasons. 

“It’s the first time we’ve had an U-21 championship in the county and, of course, it would be a nice way to end the season. But we know St Eunan’s will be just as motivated at the weekend.”