The Donegal ladies will face Cork in a TG4 All-Ireland semi-final on Saturday-week, August 18 – and officials are asking supporters to row in behind their All-Ireland bid.
Donegal’s ladies are in the semi-final for the first time ever following Saturday’s quarter-final win against Armagh in Omagh.
Niamh Hegarty of Donegal in action against Sharon Reel of Armagh during the TG4 All-Ireland Ladies Football Senior Championship quarter-final match between Armagh and Donegal. Photo by Oliver McVeigh/Sportsfile
Donegal Ladies held their annual bucket collection in Ballybofey on Sunday ahead of the Donegal v Tyrone men’s game.
“We would like to thank everyone for their generous donations and support,” a ladies spokesperson said.
“Thanks to all our collectors for the time and effort you put in.
“Days like this are so important to help fund all our teams and enable us to develop our young up and coming girls in the sport they love.
“Our senior ladies are in the All Ireland semi final on the 18th of August so don’t put the scarves and flags away yet.
“Keep them flying high in support of our wonderful group of girls.”
Details of the semi-final have yet to be confirmed, but it is expected that the Donegal-Cork clash could be played at a Dublin venue.
Cork, the 11-times champions, hammered Westmeath 8-18 to 1-6 today.
Saoirse Noonan scored a massive 1-5 after her introduction in the 38th minute, as Cork made it 23 goals in five championship games this season.
Ephie Fitzgerald knows tougher tests await as the Munster champions clash with their Ulster equivalent in the final-four. Cork were dumped out at this stage last year when Mayo shocked them. But the win over Westmeath was another step towards redemption.
“It was very one-sided. We scored a goal after a minute and it was plain-sailing. It was a strange match for an All-Ireland quarter-final in that it was so lob-sided,” said Fitzgerald.
“We can only go out and give a performance as best we can. But there are bigger things ahead for us obviously with Donegal. They are a fairly formidable outfit but we will go away and give it our best over the next couple of weeks.
“We have a strong panel of players to pick from. We can bring on girls who are every bit as good as the players who are on there. So that gives us a bit of a bonus as well.
“But Donegal are very good. When you look at their forward line, Geraldine McLaughlin, Yvonne Bonner, the Hegarty girls. They are a powerful unit.
“It will be a good football game and we are looking forward to it. People are saying we haven’t been tested but that’s testament to the girls and the work they are putting in.”
