Donegal ladies raising ambitions after Division Two triumph

DONEGAL defender Niamh Carr is hopeful that their league success can spur them on in the Ulster Championship which begins later this month.

Carr and her teammates clinched the Lidl Division Two league when they got the better of Cavan in Clones on Saturday and they are undoubtedly making progress.

There is usually a big wait after the league before the championship but that isn’t the case this year and that could suit Donegal who play Armagh in less than a fortnight’s time.

“We’re not used to that,” Carr admitted. “We have a game now in two weeks which is nice and we have momentum now.

“We will look forward to going into the Ulster campaign and get a few things right and refreshed again after a long and successful league.

“We will hopefully take that confidence into the championship now.”

Cavan led at half time but Donegal hit two goals from Mia Bennett and Ciara McGarvey in the second half.

“We’re absolutely delighted,” said Carr.

“We went in at half-time and I know we were against the wind but there were a couple of things we wanted to fix in our attack and so on.

“We just said things were going well but in the second half we came out and really went for it.

“I’m absolutely delighted. From 1-15 and the girls that came on, we really pushed through the whole way so we’re thrilled.”

Goalkeeper Clare Friel beamed with delight after helping Donegal to silverware.

The Fanad goalkeeper certainly played her part by keeping a clean sheet.

Cavan are very much a coming force in the ladies game but Donegal got the better of them on this occasion.

“It was great to get over the line. We knew it was going to be a tough battle against Cavan. They beat us in the league but we knew if we put our best foot forward that we would get over the line and thank God we did.”

Donegal were against the breeze in the first half and it wasn’t easy for Friel to get her kick-outs away.

The Loreto Convent teacher was brave when she needed to be and while Cavan were in charge for much of that half, they struggled to break down Donegal’s defensive shape.

“It was four points to two at half time. They probably did have most of the possession but I think we really kept our defensive shape well and that probably minimised their scoring chances and their scores on the board.

“To be two points down with the wind to come in the second half, we knew we were still well in the game and still had a good chance.”

In her captain’s speech, Roisin Rodgers paid tribute to the panel’s commitment and Friel says a big effort has gone in since pre-season.

“We have been training since December. Every week girls are there putting in a massive shift in training and thank God it all paid off.”