BY MATTHEW WILSON

After a year’s absence, Glenfin are back in the Senior Football Championship Final where they’ll meet old foes Termon in the showpiece this Saturday at O’Donnell Park.

Following their Division One League triumph back in July, Glenfin have managed to carry that momentum through to their Championship campaign, securing four wins from four to date.

They overcame the challenges of St Naul’s, Naomh Conaill and Naomh Muire in the group stage before sealing their spot in the final courtesy of an eight-point victory over last year’s finalists Moville in the last four.

Glenfin star Katy Herron stated that they’re pleased to have come through the competitive battles which they contested to reach this year’s final.

“We’ve been going well. I suppose people would consider that we probably got the easier side of the draw maybe but we got a lot of competitive games under our best.”

“The semi-final was another tough battle so we’re happy how we’ve come through them and we’re glad to be back into another final.”

The Pairc Taboige residents reached the Senior Championship showpiece for seven consecutive seasons prior to last year when a fifth place finish in the overall table saw them miss out on the semi-finals.

Herron expressed that people may have written the side off following last year’s campaign which drove them on to try and reach the pinnacle of Donegal ladies football again this season.

“I think a lot of people probably wrote us off after last year and they may have thought that we were done as a team. I suppose that is not something which is easy to take either so we were pretty determined to put ourselves back at the top and we’re definitely glad to be there.”

Not only did the Glenfin outfit have a trophy to show for their league campaign but they also blooded some young players into the senior ranks throughout the season which has provided some serious competition within the squad.

The Glenfin forward praised the younger players that they’ve integrated into the panel, stating that they’ve helped them reach where they are today.

“I suppose over the years we were probably putting a lot of pressure on the young girls to come through and I think this year they definitely made huge leaps forward.”

“They have really stood up tall for us this year and it’s a great credit to them. They have put in a serious shift over pre-season and throughout the league and there’s definitely a good few girls coming through that have got us to where we are now.”

A test against Termon now lies ahead of Glenfin in this Saturday’s senior showpiece where the two Donegal heavyweights will renew their rivalry.

The pair have contested five out of the last six senior finals, with the Burn Road ladies getting the better of them on three of these occasions.

Not much has separated the two teams in these meetings, with extra-time required to determine the winner in two of the deciders, and Herron is expecting much of the same when they come toe to toe again this weekend.

“The preparations are going well, I suppose we’re just looking forward to the game now. The two week break between the games can be long enough so we’re just looking forward to getting out.”

“It’ll be another battle. I don’t think we’ve ever played Termon where it hasn’t gone down to the wire, there’s a big rivalry there and that rivalry has brought both teams on over the years so I’m sure it will be another brilliant game at the weekend.”

“That competitive nature is brilliant for Donegal football as a whole. We’re always pushing each other on so it’s good to see that rivalry and competitive nature within the county.”

The Pairc Tabhoige outfit haven’t got their hands on the Senior Championship crown since 2021 and they’ll be desperate to add that to the league title which is already in the trophy cabinet for 2025.

The former AFLW player discussed that a few of the previous decider defeats left a feeling of hurt so she’s hoping they can get over the line and secure glory again this weekend.

“It seems like a long time ago now and we’ve had our chances in those years. There were years where we probably let it slip and it hurt that little bit more so we’ll be looking forward to a good battle at the weekend and hopefully we come out on the right side of it.”