Daly primed for Orchard County challenge

BY MATTHEW WILSON

DONEGAL senior ladies manager James Daly is hoping his side can make a positive start to their Ulster Championship campaign when they face Armagh this Sunday.

Donegal were last in action just shy of a fortnight ago when they secured the Division Two league title courtesy of a superb five-point victory over Cavan.

Daly said: “We were delighted. When you get promotion it’s always a good thing but to go on then and win the cup, it gives it a bit more credibility. To go up as winners and not just runners-up is a good bounce for the girls. We just have to work on that and get ready for Armagh now.”

Winning any piece of silverware is special but with a fairly youthful panel in place, it was the first senior medal earned by a number of players in the Donegal squad.

“We have some older girls and they were as excited as anybody. But for this young team now, they’re the building blocks hopefully for a very successful Donegal team over the next 10 or 12 years,” commented Daly.

“To get that first piece of silverware under your belt is always a good day. It’s good for the girls, good for their confidence and it sets you up well for the rest of the season.”

The Donegal team will have enjoyed their Division Two triumph but not for long as it was soon time to get back to the training field, with the start of the Ulster Senior Ladies Championship just around the corner.

Donegal will begin their quest for the Ulster title this Sunday when they make the trip to the Athletic Grounds for a meeting with Armagh. Daly expressed that preparations have gone well ahead of the provincial competition.

“We’d a night out on Saturday night and then we were back training. The girls were in the gym early in the week and then we were back in Convoy on Wednesday and Friday.

“Preparations have gone really well. The girls are buzzing, we’ve had a couple of really good training sessions already this week so we’re looking forward to it now.

Last time

Donegal’s last Ulster crown arrived three years ago when they defeated Armagh by four points in the provincial showpiece.

They will be hoping to bring this run to an end this term, with the Donegal ladies boss noting that landing that piece of silverware is next on his side’s list of objectives.

“That’s the next goal for this team, to win an Ulster Championship. That’s always in your building block for the All-Ireland series.

“To win an Ulster Championship has always been a big deal no matter which county wins it and especially Donegal. Donegal have had great success in this competition over the years and hopefully we can get the girls back winning that cup again very soon.”

Daly’s side will make the trip to Armagh this Sunday for a meeting with his native county before facing Tyrone seven days later in their second group game of the Ulster Championship.

A win this weekend would put Donegal in a strong position in the competition ahead of their Round Two meeting with Tyrone.

“We play Armagh and we play Tyrone the following week so it’s very important that we get off to a good start. If you win both of those games then you’re in an Ulster Final and if you win one of them then there’s a good chance you’re in an Ulster Final.

“Armagh is a big side and at home they will be thinking that they have the edge. We have to set out our stall that’ll get us over the line.”