The Donegal Under-16 Ladies team face Armagh in the Ulster Under-16 ‘C’ final on Sunday evening and Liam Skelly says his side is gunning for silverware.
Donegal and Armagh cross swords at Killyclogher in Tyrone at 5pm on Sunday with the Ulster ‘C’ title up for grabs.
“There is great excitement in the squad this week,” Moville clubman Skelly says.
Donegal came through a tough group that also included crack sides from Cavan and Monaghan. Donegal lost narrowly to both, but the Tir Chonaill girls beat Down and Derry to qualify from the group in third spot.
This same Donegal squad were Ulster U14 ‘B’ Champions two years ago and Skelly is hopeful of bagging more success this weekend.
He says: “The squad are working very hard and they know what it’s all about at this stage. We’re disappointed that we’re only in a ‘C’ final, but we were just unlucky with the group draw. But it would still be lovely to go out and win the final to get some reward for the season.
“The girls are all looking forward to the game. It’s a big day for them all. It’s not too often you get to play in an Ulster final so we want to make the most of it.”
Donegal will have their captain, Clodagh Skelly, back in action for the final. Skelly missed the last couple of months after dislocating her elbow in the loss to Cavan, but she is set for inclusion again in the final having battled back to full fitness again.
Lauren Carr of Gaeil Fhánada has been carrying a big scoring threat for Donegal so far with the likes of Mya Alcorn and Rionach Giles-McMenamin among the other key cogs for Skelly, who has Carndonagh’s John Gibbons, Maura McCrudden of Red Hughs and Convoy’s Aine Reilly as his mentors.
Donegal ladies under-16 panel: Alannah McFadden (Milford), Amy Boyle Carr (Naomh Canaille), Amy Laverty (Mac Cumhaills), Ana Keon (Aodh Ruadh), Aobh Faulkner (Movie), Bronagh Gallagher (Naomh Conaill), Cait Gillespie (Aodh Ruadh), Caoimhe Keon (Aodh Ruadh), Claire Doherty (St Eunan’s), Clara McLaughlin (Carndonagh), Clodagh Skelly (Moville), Dina Patton (Convoy), Eimear Alcorn (Termon), Ellie Barron (Convoy), Hannah Shallow (St Naul’s), Katie McGovern (St Eunan’s), Laura Furey (Ardara), Lauren Carr (Gaeil Fhánada), Mary Martin (Glenfin), Megan Ryan (Milford), Mya Alcorn (Termon), Niamh Harkin (St Eunan’s), Niamh McDonald (Moville), Niamh Skelly (Moville), Niamh Walsh (St Eunan’s), Rhona McEniff (Bundgarn), Rionach Giles-McMenamin (Termon), Saoirse Bonner (Naomh Muire), Sarah Harkin (Ardara), Sarah Kho (Termon), Susanne White (Killybegs).
Manager: Liam Skelly. Mentors: John Gibbons, Maura McCrudden, Aine Reilly. Physio: Gary Ryan.
