Title would be a huge reward: McGeehan

BY MATTHEW WILSON

DONEGAL ladies assistant manager Bernard McGeehan is hoping that his side can cap off a superb league campaign with a piece of silverware for their efforts as they face Cavan in this Saturday’s Division Two final against Clones.

Following a three-year absence from the Division One, Donegal are back dining at the top table after they secured promotion courtesy of a win over Wexford at O’Donnell Park 11 days ago.

The Leinster side came to Letterkenny with their fate already determined, sitting bottom of the second tier but Donegal had a job to do and managed to complete it with an eight-point victory, something which McGeehan was delighted about.

“We were delighted. I said to the girls before the game that if we were offered to get to the last day with destiny in our own hands then we would’ve taken it and we did there.

“Wexford had a difficult league campaign and we went into it with confidence but a bit of apprehension as well because you’ve a team that are already relegated and basically nothing to play for which makes them dangerous.

“The weather conditions also on the day became a concern to us because ultimately it turns into a game of two halves.

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“In fairness to the girls, they came out and I thought they were excellent from the first minute.

“Their attitude was good, I thought we controlled the game and we got over the line with a bit to spare so it was a good day all round and a fitting reward for the girls.”

With promotion now achieved, Donegal can now look forward to a Division 2 League Final meeting with Cavan this Saturday at St Tiernach’s Park in Clones.

There was very little between the sides when they met earlier in the league campaign, with the Breffini County running out narrow two-point winners at Father Tierney Park in Ballyshannon.

Having secured back-to-back promotions, Cavan are a side with serious momentum behind them at the minute and it makes for an intriguing all-Ulster decider this weekend.

The 2025 Ulster finalists will be pleased with their campaign to date and clinching a cup this Saturday would be the icing on the cake to cap things off, with McGeehan expressing that it would serve as a confidence boost ahead of the upcoming Ulster Championship.

“Absolutely, there’s never a negative from winning anything. Ultimately, it would be a huge reward for the girls to win it and when you get to finals you have to make the most of them.

“It would be a good confidence boost heading into the Championship which is only two weeks away from this weekend. We’ll hopefully have something to celebrate but it’ll be short-lived because we’ll have the heads down.

“It will bring us into the Championship in a good place but regardless if we get the cup or not, we feel that we’re in a good place anyway and we’re looking to keep that trajectory going.”

McGeehan stated that the overall league campaign has been one full of positives and he’s happy that the group have managed to reap the rewards for the commitment and dedication that they have displayed to date.

“It’s been a really positive league campaign and we felt confident going into it. Compared to last year, we felt we had a good pre-season behind us, we felt the group was another year older.

“The likes of Ava Calufield coming in for her first full season, we had her in last year but she was still minor so she was dipping in and out. We did add a few new girls to the squad and the squad was key for us.

“You’re not winning promotion or leagues with 15 players, you need 24 or 25 and we feel that we’ve a really strong, competitive squad. It’s been positive on many fronts and we’re just delighted for the girls.

“We’ve pushed them hard, we’ve challenged them and the work that they’ve put in so we’re chuffed that they’ve been rewarded for that.