DONEGAL Ladies goalkeeper Clare Friel feels one more win will probably be good enough to secure her team’s survival in Division 2 for another season and she hopes they can get the result they need this Sunday against Tipperary.
The Naomh Pádraig club in Lifford will host the match that throws in at 1pm and Donegal are still a tad nervous when they look at the table.
They have only won one of five games but have drawn three.
Two teams will be relegated from Division 2 and considering Donegal conclude against a strong side in Cork, this week’s match does provide a good opportunity.
Clare still have to play the league’s two strongest teams in Cork and Galway so there is a strong possibility that six points will be good enough to keep James Daly’s side afloat but a victory in the border town can ease any tension.
“We are working hard in training,” Friel told the Donegal News this week.
“I think from our first game, we have improved week on week.
“It’s great that we have our last two games at home because it gives us a better chance of getting a result.
“You would be hoping that one more win would maybe leave us safe.
“It is a very tight league from top to bottom. Cork and Galway are very strong having been in the All-Ireland semi-finals last year, but we knew the teams that we played last season were all good, and the teams that were promoted are strong too.
“We have a young team but the girls are doing very well.
“Some of them have come straight in from minors. We’ve seen how Katie Dowds and Abigail (Temple Asokuh) have come in and settled, so it’s exciting to see what the other young girls might be able to do.
“James has come in and he has a lot of experience. He has a good team with Bernard (McGeehan) and Karen (Guthrie) and they work well together.
“We have a young group but it’s all very positive at the moment.
Friel didn’t play underage for Donegal and was best known as a soccer goalkeeper.
However, the Gaeil Fhánada star is now in her third season with the county team.
She appears to have nailed down the goalkeeping jersey although the 23-year-old is certainly not getting complacent.
“It’s going ok at the moment.
“It can be a tough old spot at times but you just try and do your best.
“We have a goalkeeping coach (Damien Bradley) so we have had a few good sessions and are coming on.
“Bronagh Gallagher from Glenties is the other goalkeeper in the panel.
“She’s come in late but it’s great to have the competition there now and to work with someone.
“We’re fighting for the same spot but we’re working together too and whether you’re on the pitch or off it, you’re trying to support the other one as best as you can.”
Tipperary boast one of the top forwards in the game in Aishling Moloney.
Like so many of the other top players in the ladies game, she is also starring in Aussie Rules down under.
However, while Donegal’s Amy Boyle Carr and Niamh McLaughlin are no longer part of the county set-up, Moloney is in the mix and she will take a lot of stopping in Lifford.
Friel said: “It’s going to be a tough game. They have a good number of points on the table already.
“Last year we went down there to play them and were lucky enough to come away with the points.
“They have been putting up some big scores in the games that they have played so we will have to watch them carefully.
“A lot of the games we have played have been decided by the last kick of the match.
“It would be nice if we could get the scores on early this week and were able to breathe a little easier but we’re expecting another tough one.”
Related posts:
Receive quality journalism wherever you are, on any device. Keep up to date from the comfort of your own home with a digital subscription.
Any time | Any place | Anywhere
SUBSCRIBE TO CURRENT EDITION TODAY
and get access to our archive editions dating back to 2007(CLICK ON THE TITLE BELOW TO SUBSCRIBE)