Doonan savours league triumph

By Katrina Brennan

AFTER plying her trade in the full-back line for Fermanagh this year, Joanne Doonan has certainly given Erne boss CJ McGourty something to think about after her performance at full-forward for her club Kinawley on Sunday.

The former AFLW player was in sensational form as she hit 3-3 to help Kinawley retain the Division One League Cup with victory over Derrygonnelly.

“It’s nice to be back in the forward line for a change this year,” laughed Doonan.

“It’s good to get the win. It can’t go without saying how quickly the girls moved the ball, just the running patterns – everything. They make it easy for the person that’s going to finish the score but it was just an unreal performance by all the girls today.”

Kinawley got off to a rip-roaring start, opening a nine point lead in the first 10 minutes, 2-3 to no score. The early goals were a real catalyst for the Kinawley win, admitted Doonan;

“It was definitely nice to get a couple of them goals early to give us that wee bit of composure; that wee bit of buffer. But, we knew it was never going to be over until the final whistle with Derrygonnelly, so it was just about keeping the head down and chipping away at scores and that’s what we did, thankfully.”

Hitting 6-13 is some going any day you go out and seven different players got on the scoresheet. That’s something the Brian Boru’s have been working on.

“I think that’s a big focus of ours, we don’t just have one or two players, it literally is everybody who can score.

“Corrine Breen got up from corner-back today to score, we just encourage everybody to back themselves and take the shot if they’re in that position, so it’s good to see that today.”

In her first club season since her return from Australia the versatile Kinawley player was savouring the victory on Sunday.

“I’ve said it before about playing in Australia – don’t get me wrong, it was amazing, but there’s nothing like playing with the girls that you grew up with. You’ve been playing with these girls for, embarrassingly, nearly 30 years, so you’re well used to each other and it’s just an amazing feeling to win with club.Iit’s amazing.”

Kinawley now turn their attention to the Senior Championship which begins with a trip to Lisnaskea to take on Aghadrumsee on Friday evening. With new manager Barry McKenna on board this season, Doonan says the vibes in the camp are all positive.

“Barry is very professional and he’s driving us on. I suppose he is very positive and brings out the best in us and makes us believe in ourselves and just kind of fills us with confidence. So, we just have to trust what he says and back ourselves then, so yeah, he’s been really good.”