BY DÁIRE BONNAR
THE Donegal ladies got their first league win in dramatic fashion last time out and forward Jodie McFadden is hoping they can build on that result.
It was a welcome win for the side, having drawn their two opening games away to Clare and Westmeath with late scores forcing the points to be shared on both occasions.
And with Monaghan leading by one in O’Donnell Park Sunday week ago, Donegal got one final chance from a free to draw, but it dropped into captain Róisín Rodgers who punched in for a late goal to steal the win.
“Wherever the goal came from I don’t know,” McFadden told the Donegal News.
“It was a bit spur of the moment but it was a massive result, especially after coming away with two draws before that, we definitely needed to get a win on the board and give ourselves that boost.
“We didn’t want to come away from that game with another draw or a loss so we’re very thankful to get the win.”
That result was a first win for the side since Armagh native James Daly took over and it’s still less than two months since his appointment.
The team got back to work in pre-season without a manager until Daly accepted the role and McFadden praised the work of the players, the county board and the new boss in a time of uncertainty.
“We had a rocky start in that sense and it was in a lot of our heads, some girls didn’t know what they were going to do.
“But it comes down to the county board and the help they gave out and they went looking for a manager. It was big from James to step up as well when he didn’t know where we were standing.
“We were doing our own training when we didn’t even have a manager, just to get the fitness up and it wasn’t long until they got James in and now we have a good backroom team supporting us and there are a few familiar faces involved so we’re thankful for it.
“Donegal are going through a transition and that is definitely clear to other counties but we’re not letting that get to us, we’re still showing up and pulling out results.
“We haven’t had a bad start at all, we’re still unbeaten so there’s not much more we could ask for.”
The Termon woman is in her fourth year in the panel and her minutes have increased significantly in the last 12 months as a number of senior players have opted away from the panel.
The ATU Donegal student came on as a sub in the draw against Clare but has started the last two games, kicking three points in what have been low scoring affairs so far.
The side have scored 1-23 over the three matches, conceding 2-18 and McFadden wants to see an improvement on their conversion rate.
“We know ourselves that we need to be getting more scores on the board, it’s not good enough to be coming away with eight or nine points or just edging through matches every time.
“This year has definitely given myself more of an opening and the same for a lot of girls who are getting a lot of game time, Sophie McFeeley started last weekend there so it was great to see.
“Every week you look there’s nearly always someone different starting in the panel, it’s never the same team going out two weeks in-a-row but that’s a good thing with the variety we have. A lot of the girls are stepping up with each session which is only going to bring us on further.
“You’re looking at some of the girls, Eva Gallagher only turned 19 at the weekend and Katie Dowds is only sitting her Leaving Cert as are two other girls so we are definitely one of the youngest county teams in the country. We know there are teams out there that might be older and stronger but it all comes down to skill at the end of the day.”
Attentions turn to newly promoted Roscommon this weekend and despite having four games left, this will be Donegal’s last away game before facing Cork, Tipperary and Galway at home.
A win would leave them well set in third place in the table before those three games, and McFadden is hopeful of coming back up the road with three points.
“A result will be needed, we’ll not be underestimating Roscommon and we know they have a few tall, athletic girls so it’ll come down to the day and who wants it more.
“I don’t think I’ve ever played against them, they’ve played three games and won one so they’ll be looking for a result too.
“But for us, we need to get away from these close battles, we need to try and get the lead early and be more creative to get the scores on the board which we know we are able to do, we don’t want to be tit for tat coming towards the end.
“When you know you have your last three games at home, it gives us a chance to knuckle down and it’ll give us a sense of security. You’ll have the support and that makes a big difference and it should be a big benefit to us.”
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