Not for the first time Maxi Curran pulled a rabbit out of the hat to help the Donegal ladies claimed their first Ulster Final since 2019 when they overcame champions Armagh today.
Donegal 1-10 Armagh 0-9
Curran introduced veterans Tanya Kennedy and Niamh Hegarty into his starting line-up and both deliver the goods.
Donegal went into the game at Owenbeg in Derry as undoubted underdogs against a very fancied Armagh side.
But Donegal played out of their skins and matched the Armagh team in all departments.
But it was the reigning champions who notched up the scores early on as they raced to a 0-4 to 0-1 lead after just ten minutes.
Curran’s side then managed to get scores on the board band managed to go in ahead at the break on a scoreline of 0-7 to 0-5 and could have put more scores on the board if the truth be told.
Their advantage was helped in no small part top a green period in the opening half when Donegal notched up six points without reply.
Armagh got more of a grip of the game in the second period and indeed went ahead 0-9 to 0-8 with 13 minutes to go.
Donegal managed to level the game when Niamh Hegarty pointed after a great ball from veteran Karen Guthrie.
And things got even better for Donegal when Guthrie went from provider to taker when she put over a close-range free after Niamh McLaughlin was fouled to put Donegal ahead 0-10 to 0-9 ahead.
Not done by any means, Armagh were busting a git to find that levelling score.
But it was not to be their day as with just seconds left before the hooter, substitute Ciara McGarvey rattled the Armagh net with her very first touch to claim the Ulster title.
Donegal: Claire Friel; Niamh Carr, Abigail Temple Asoko, Nicole McLaughlin; Amy Boyle Carr, Karen Guthrie, Tara Hegarty; Niamh Hegarty, Niamh McLaughlin; Roisin Rodgers, Katie Long, Katie Dowds; Emer Gallagher, Katy Herron, Tanya Kennedy.
Subs: Shannon McGroddy for Long, Susanne White for Roisin Rodgers and Ciara McGarvey for Guthrie.
