Rodgers glad of home backing for visit of Galway

By Michael McMullan

IT has been five weeks since their Ulster final defeat against Armagh but Donegal step into the All-Ireland series when Galway visit Lifford on Saturday.

The Connacht champions were nine-point winners over Tipperary in their opening game, thanks to a 1-10 to 0-1 lead and Leanne Coen’s goal.

For Donegal captain Róisín Rodgers, she is hoping home support will be a help this weekend and they can take on board some of the learnings from the Armagh defeat.

“I said it a few times, Armagh are a quality side and we knew going into the game that it was going to be tough,” said Rodgers.

“We didn’t start off great and we left a few behind us as well in the game.

“Going into the championship now, we just want to try our best and perform to the best our capabilities.”

Rodgers enjoys the joke that she has no excuse for not being in tip-top shape physically, given her new career as a personal trainer, but admits there are collective footballing lessons from the Armagh game.

“When you look back on the video, there’s definitely a lot of lessons to be learned,” she admitted.

They’ve been looking at how they’ve attacked, their play in defence and the transition play to knit it all together.

They’ll be aware of what Galway and Tipperary will bring in the coming weeks but there’s a focus on themselves.

The Donegal squad were back preparing immediately, factored in challenge games and stuck together as a group without any return to club action.

“I suppose it’s good to have the gap as well,” Rodgers added. “We got to work on things a little bit more detail.

“The rounds will come thick and fast whenever we do start up in the championship.”

“Galway are a savage side,” she said of last year’s All-Ireland finalists.

“We came up against them in the league and we know how strong they are. They have some incredible players and it’ll definitely be a massive challenge.

“I think it’s just about going into it and having the belief in ourselves and belief in our system.

“You can’t get too bogged down on an opponent, so you have to concentrate on your own routine and what we are trying to get out of the game.”

Rodgers is happy to have their first game on home soil and points to the advantage of having their own fans backing them through thick and thin.

“It does make such a difference to us as players,” Rodgers said. “It’s just nice to know that you have the backing of your county behind you.

“It’s great to have it at home and have it in Lifford, a pitch that we’d be familiar with as well.

“It means a lot knowing that you have people supporting you throughout everything, if you’re up by 20 points or down by 20 points and that they’re always going to have your back. They do give you that extra lift.”