Donegal minor ladies chasing back-to-back All-Irelands
Donegal minor lady footballers are on the trophy trail again this weekend as the chase yet another All-Ireland Ireland Minor Championship crown when they face Galway in Balinamore, Co Leitrim on Saturday afternoon. (Throw in 2.30 pm).
Bidding for a second All-Ireland in-a-row the girls are attempting to etch their names forever in Donegal GAA folklore. Kenny Griffin, from Sean MacCumhaill's, is again at the helm with Davy McLaughlin from Moville as his right hand man and Saturday's starting 15 includes nine of last year's history making side that defeated Clare 5-13 to 5-5 in the O'Connor Park, Tullamore.
Tara Khan, Tanya Kennedy, Kate Keaney, Niamh Friel, Ciara Hegarty, Niamh McLaughlin, Roisin McDonald, Ciara Grant and Geraldine McLaughlin are all on board again this year while Alannah McDonnell, who came off the bench on a number of occasions, has also graduated to being a regular member of this year's team.
Geraldine McLaughlin, who tormented defences up and down the country last season, is once again the side's scorer-in- chief and in the four games to date she has hit an impressive 8-36 while Four Masters' Kate Keaney has taken over as captain from Eilish Ward.
In their campaign to date Donegal blew away Cavan and Tyrone in their opening two games before seeing off the challenge of a fancied Down in the Ulster final. The Donegal girls emerged 3-11 to 1-5 winners over the Mourne County and while they found the going tougher against Leinster champions Laois in the All-Ireland semi-final, they still had four points to spare as Geraldine McLaughlin struck 1-10 in their 3-12 to 3-8 victory with Ciara Hegarty accounting for 1-1, Niamh McLaughlin 1-0, and Alannah McDonnell 0-1.
"We are all set and rarin' to go. Thankfully we have no major injury worries except for a couple of knocks and bruises but nothing that will rule anybody out and we have a fully fit squad," said Donegal manager Kenny Grriffin.
"We are totally focused on Saturday and Galway and know we have a real fight on our hands to retain our title. Galway are a very good side. They defeated Cork in their semi-final and have a number of quality players. But we have a good side too and are determined to win back to back All-Irelands. To win one was special but to win a second in-a-row would be fantastic and would be a tremendous achievement and is something we are very anxious to do and I honestly believe we are good enough to do so."
The Donegal side named by Griffin after training last night showed just one change from the side that defeated Laois with Emer Galllagher from Termon coming in up front to play alongside her club colleague Geraldine McLaughlin. Emer replaces Aodh Ruadh's Dearbhaille McNeill.
Saturday's final is a repeat of last year's All-Ireland semi-final which was a close fought affair before Donegal ran out 2-9 to 0-14 winners with Alannah McDonnell coming off the bench to score a crucial second half goal for Donegal which proved to be the turning point in the game.
Galway, as their victory over Cork suggests suggests, are formidable opposition with Dora Gorman at midfield, Deirdre Brennan, at centre-forward and Michelle Burke at corner forward in particular players with big reputations. They are the players that could have a big say in whether or not Donegal add the coveted back to back All-Ireland crowns or not.
Kenny Griffin's managment team is completed by Martin Barrett, Hugh Carr, Caroline Morris, Eileen Griffin, Ailish McDonald and Liz McNeill.
Donegal team: Niamh Mailey (Convoy); Tara Khan (Aodh Ruadh), Tanya Kennedy (Robert Emmetts) Orlaith Furlong (Moville); Kayla Farren (Urris), Kate Keaney (Four Masters. capt), Niamh Friel (Termon); Ciara Hegarty (Moville), Niamh McLaughlin (Moville); Roisin McDonald (Carndonagh), Ciara Grant (St Eunans), Alannah McDonnell (Naomh Conaill); Emer Gallagher(Termon), Geraldine McLaughlin (Termon), Caomhie Barrett (Milford).
Subs: Mary B. O'Donnell (St Michaels), Lorainne Molloy (Naomh Conaill), Anna Rafferty (Aodh Ruadh), Petra McCafferty (Termon), Dearbhaille McNeill (Aodh Ruadh), Catherine Boyle (St. Eunans), Nicole O’Leary(MacCumhaills), Anne Marie Logue (Glenfin), Kellie Carr (Kilcar), Laura Stewart (Sean MacCumhaills), Mairead Walsh (Moville), Maria Carr (St. Michaels), Rose Boyle (St. Eunans), Emma Mc Grory (Robert Emmetts),Colleen Kearney (Urris), Aoife McDevitt (Naomh Conaill).
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Weather for Donegal
Wednesday 08 February 2012
Today
Heavy rain
Temperature: 5 C to 7 C
Wind Speed: 22 mph
Wind direction: South
Tomorrow
Light rain
Temperature: 6 C to 9 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: South west
