HAVING WATCHED HIS SIDE win their seven regulation Division 2 games by a total of 92 points, Micheál Naughton was glad to see the Donegal ladies get a big test in yesterday’s semi-final.
It’s an eighth win on the trot for Donegal and this one came after they’d been scared for a time in the first half by the Breffni.
“We needed a tough test,” Naughton said after the seven-point win.
“We were under no illusions what we’d face today and that’s a good game to go into the final on the back of. We’ll have another big task in the final – but we’ll relish it.”
Two weeks ago, Donegal defeated Cavan 2-7 to 1-2 in Donegal town, but there were no goals here.
Cavan missed a penalty in the first half as Aisling Doonan fired wide, while Donegal were twice denied by the woodwork as Geraldine McLaughlin – who ended with eight points – and Yvonne McMonagle went close.
Naughton saiud: “We’re happy to win, but we knew what we were in for today.
“The way we beat them the last week, we knew it wasn’t their full hand.
“We played into the breeze in the first half, but we had two shots that came off the upright and had a big call for a penalty that I was very disappointed we didn’t get.
“Cavan got a penalty that was very easy and those things can go against you. Yes, we won today, but it could have been a different story and we’re certainly not getting carried away.
“Cavan funnelled back and they made it tight, but we knew with the breeze in the second half that we could get the ball in and get the result. The girls got belief and we pushed on over the line.
“We’re in a League final and that’s where these girls deserve to be. We’ll go there to take the League title back to Donegal.”
Donegal restricted Cavan to just one point in the second half and they registered nine scores of their own in part two.
Naughton, who is in the first year of his latest stint as the Donegal ladies manager, hailed his defence.
He said: “We were against a stiff breeze and we knew Cavan wanted out of the blocks so we needed to go pound-for-pound. We stood strong and we ground out the result.
“Deirdre Foley is in the form of her life in the defence. The likes of Ciara Hegarty, Treasa Doherty, too, but Deirdre was exceptional and we had good performances all over the field.”
Naughton also praised rookie goalkeeper Aoife McColgan, who has stepped in in the absence of the injured Laura Gallagher.
McColgan kept a clean sheet and looked an assured presence throughout.
Naughton said: “Aoife came in and has done well. She’s a young girl and she’s played superb. Her kicks out are good and we’re happy with her. It’s a big step up to senior football, but she has grabbed that chance with both hands. We’re very pleased with that.”
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