BY RYAN FERRY
THE Donegal Camogie team created history last Saturday when they recorded their first Junior Championship win over Mayo and captain Aimee Lafferty has been delighted in the improvement shown by the side since the beginning of 2026.
This year is the first season that Donegal have entered the Centra National League and Glen Dimplex All-Ireland Championship.
It has taken some time to build the fitness and the right levels of cohesion.
Eunan O’Donnell’s Donegal lost all their league matches and their championship opener against Monaghan.
However, the heads didn’t drop and the team got their reward at O’Donnell Park when they defeated Mayo by 1-14 to 3-5.
Lafferty played a real captain’s role from centre half-forward where her pace and energy were key to the success.
“It’s good to see,” Lafferty told the Donegal News.
“We have worked hard all year from the start in January.
“There was a quick turnaround to starting the games initially and that was tough but we got the work done and it’s paying off.
“We have got there eventually and it’s just brilliant for the county.”
Donegal had to move quickly in January when they got the green light to enter a team.
There were some initial teething issues but also glimpses of what they could do.
For 15 minutes in Carndonagh in the season’s opener, Donegal caused Monaghan huge issues.
However, the experienced Farney side eventually got on top.
Donegal didn’t get disheartened with defeat and the management gave their squad a chance to impress.
Markieviz’s Lafferty has been impressed with the attitude of the group and how they have come together as a unit.
“You definitely could see it.
“Week on week, we got that improvement.
“Every day we have been training, girls have come on fitness wise and skill wise.
“You had the initial challenge of getting everyone together from different clubs.
“Nobody really knew one another beforehand. You’re always playing against each other and you’re trying to figure out how they play.
“It’s really come on. If you look at our team now, you wouldn’t be able to tell who is from what club.
“It’s very much one team all together and that is brilliant because it’s the only way you’re going to improve and kick on this season.”
Mayo rattled in two early goals against Donegal but Lafferty and her teammates showed great composure.
They reeled off eight points on the trot and Aobhinn Randles then rattled the net.
Mayo scored 1-1 again late on to reduce their deficit to one.
However, two late Sarah Lambe frees made sure of Donegal’s victory.
“They got a good start and got two early goals.
“Thankfully we didn’t let the heads drop.
“We got a couple of points which managed to bring us back into it.
“We were level at half-time and we just went in and said we had to push on and that was really it.
“The girls went out and did it. We had our purple patch yes but everyone has those and you have to make the most of it.
“They came back at us late on. They got a goal and it was make-or-break at that stage really.
“But we just kept going and we got the points.”
There were great scenes of jubilation for the team and their supporters after the match.
There was no silverware at stake but the sweet taste of satisfaction was evident.
“There’s just a great buzz with it for everyone.
“There were tough games against Monaghan and away to Mayo and Louth earlier in the year.
“But we just knew it would come eventually for us.
“We got it right against Mayo and the buzz has been amazing. It’s great for the underage girls to see it.”
Lafferty was one of the best players on the field against Mayo and her indefatigable performance was all the more impressive considering she was lining out in a different sport the previous evening.
The 22-year-old is talented sportswoman and has been balancing her camogie commitments with football for Strabane Athletic.
“I have been playing soccer in the middle of it with Strabane.
“We had a match on Friday night over in Mid-Ulster.
“I am out seven days a week. There is no break at all.
“It’s more a case of picking and choosing your easy nights and your hectic nights.
“I have managed it alright so far and nothing has over-lapped yet and hopefully it stays that way.”
Donegal have a break this weekend before they gear up for their final group match against Louth.
The wee county defeated them in the league but were well beaten themselves by Monaghan last week.
There’s a good chance these sides could meet again in the semi-finals of the Junior Championship.
That isn’t an immediate concern though as Lafferty just wants to build on the Mayo result and get another good performance.
“Well you would be looking to finish as high as you can anyway – that goes without saying.
“The game away to Louth is going to be a tough challenge.
“We played them earlier in the year and they were strong. I didn’t play myself that day because I was injured.
“We will look forward to it and try and carry the buzz from the Mayo match into Louth, and there’s no reason why we can’t be winning that game.”