THE Donegal Minor Ladies team will begin their Ulster Championship campaign this Saturday when they take on Tyrone in Drumragh at 3pm.

Donegal, who are this year under the guidance of Milford clubman James McGinley, are in a group with Tyrone, Cavan, and Antrim, and the top two teams will advance to the semi-finals.

McGinley was involved with the Dublin LGFA before returning home to Donegal last year, and he has been very pleased with his team’s preparations for their opener.

“We held a trial period around Christmas and then we began collective training on January 5, and we have trained twice a week since then,” said McGinley, who has Frankie Greene, Thressa McConnell, Gearoid Horkan, Lisa McElchar, Sarah McGinley, and Shona Doherty in his backroom team.

“We played five challenge matches – home and away against Roscommon, against Sligo, the Donegal senior team, and the Termon senior team

“They were all good work-outs and we learned a lot from them.

“Everything is going good and the girls know each other’s game well at this stage. They have been together for the last few years.

“They have a great attitude. They are interested in learning and improving and you can’t ask for much more than that.”

McGinley will be looking for big performances from Megan Ryan, Amy Boyle Carr and Lauren Carr, who have all been starring for the Donegal senior team this spring, despite still being Under 18.

It’s been a hectic few months for that trio, but McGinley says that he and the senior manager Maxi Curran have tried to manage their workloads as best as possible.

“To be fair to Maxi, there have been no problems at all. The three girls have been very involved with both squads.

“We just have to be mindful of their workloads and making sure they aren’t playing a challenge game and then doing a hard training session that evening.

“We have to be organised to work around their schedules, and that makes sure there’s no butting heads, and both teams get the best from the girls.”

Megan Ryan and Amy Boyle Carr have defied their young age to play consistently well for the Donegal seniors, while Gaeil Fhánada clubwoman Lauren Carr is also highly-rated, and all three will have benefited from their involvement with Curran’s team.

“They have done brilliantly,” said McGinley.

“I think Megan and Amy started and finished most matches, while Lauren came on against Monaghan and kicked a free.

“Training with any senior intercounty team is going to bring you on, and they have fared well in the matches.

“They did take a bit of a beating against Cork, but they were up against a team with All Stars all over the pitch.

“It’s going to be a huge learning curve for them to go up against quality like that.”

Tyrone will be gunning for the points on home turf, and McGinley is anticipating a tough challenge against the Red Hands.

“Tyrone always have a strong side. They beat Donegal in the Minor Championship last year.

“They have done quite well at Under 16 level in each of the last two years, so that indicates that they will be strong.

“They are backboned by their St Pat’s Dungannon players, who have an All-Ireland ‘B’ Schools Final this Friday.

“From what I hear they have a lot of very good footballers, and it’s going to be a serious test for us.”

Donegal Minor Ladies panel: Megan Ryan, Megan Ferry, Taylor Doherty, Aisling Irwin, Bronagh Durning (all Milford), Lauren Carr (Gaeil Fhánada), Susanne White (Killybegs), Saoirse Bonner, Roisin Rodgers (Naomh Muire), Bronagh Gallagher, Amy Boyle Carr (Naomh Conaill), Eimear Alcorn, Annie McLaughlin, Rionnach Giles (Termon), Holly Gillespie (Sean MacCumhaill’s), Ana Keon, Caoimhe Keon,Cait Gillespie (Aodh Ruadh), Mary Martin, Katie Long, Danielle McGinley (Glenfin), Claire Doherty, Niamh Walsh, Laoise Ryan (St Eunan’s), Hannah Crawford (Four Masters), Rhona McEniff (Bundoran), Ellie Barron (Convoy), Clodagh Skelly, Niamh Skelly, Aoibh Faulkner, Kate McClenaghan, Niamh McDonald (Moville), Hannah Shallow, Aoife Greene (St Naul’s), Megan Halven (Naomh Padraig, Muff).