It was a disappointing start to their Ulster campaign for Donegal’s U-14 lady footballers in Letterkenny on Saturday.
Aidan McAteer’s side played two games at O’Donnell Park as Donegal hosted the first day of Ulster LGFA’s U-14 Festival of Football competition.
Donegal played games against Cavan and Down but ended up on the losing side in both matches.
The action got underway with Donegal playing Down and while scores were hard to come by, Down’s ability to take whatever goal chances came their way proved the difference.
In the end the Mourne county won by 4-02 to 0-07.
The second match of the day saw Cavan prove way too strong for Down, winning by 3-11 to 0-01.
In the final game of the day, Donegal produced a fine performance but again, lost out to an impressive Cavan side who recorded a 4-10 to 3-01 victory.
Today’s games were watched by a big crowd at O’Donnell Park and marked the start of a busy run of games at this level.
Each team in Ulster will host a day of football over four weekends during which each county will play all other eight counties in the province.
At the end of the Festival of Football, the position of each county will determine what level of competition they will be involved in at All Ireland level during the summer.
Meanwhile at minor level, Donegal ladies traveled to Castlerea in County Roscommon on Saturday to play a challenge game against Roscommon.
Declan McDermott’s side are preparing for their Ulster championship opener away to Down on Saturday, April 1st.
Donegal U-14s squad: Ellie Anne McFadden (Cloughaneely), Sarah Black (Milford), Aoibhinne McCann (Dungloe), Nicole Bonner Gillespie (Dungloe), Aoibhine Wallace (Burt), Laura Boyle (Naomh Columba – Captain); Cliona McColgan (Naomh Padraig, Muff), Laura Quinn (Four Masters), Laoise Foy (Aodh Ruadh), Toni Boyle (Dungloe), Sophie Doherty (St. Eunan’s), Heidi McHugh (Killybegs), Ellen Monaghan (Aodh Ruadh) Mia O’Donnell (Dungloe), Kate McCafferty (Termon), Áine Chambers (Red Hughs), Rachel Gillespie (Aodh Ruadh), Cadhala Gillespie (Aodh Ruadh), Orla Ward (Malin), Ava McNamara (Bundoran), Grace Begley (Gaeil Fhanada) Ciara Daly (St. Eunan’s), Ava McGonagle (Carndonagh), Dayna Clerkin (Dungloe), Hannah Friel (Cloughaneely), Kirstie Boyle (Dungloe), Iona McHugh (Ardara), Hannah Friel (Cloughaneely), Sophie Campbell (Naomh Conaill), Aoibhinne McCauley (St. Eunan’s), Caoimhe Gallagher (Dungloe), Evangeline McDermott (Moville), Emma O Donnell (Aodh Ruadh), Emily Davenport (Naomh Padraig, Muff) Cayla McFadden (Termon), Mary Bridget McGeever (Downings), Pia Rose McDaid (Moville).
