By Diarmaid Doherty
DONEGAL manager Declan McDermott admits that he has been left with some selection headaches ahead of today’s All-Ireland Minor Ladies C Championship final.
The Moville man has been able to tinker with his starting 15 throughout this campaign and said he can trust any of his players to do a job if handed a starting jersey.
Today’s opponents Waterford are likely to provide Donegal with their toughest challenge of this campaign, but McDermott, pictured below, insists his players are ready for their big day.
“It’s not every year you get to an All-Ireland final and I’m delighted for all the girls when you think about all the effort they have put in,” he said.
“I do have a few headaches when it comes to selection. That’s what you want, you just don’t want to go with 10 or 15 girls that you can trust. I can trust all 30 girls and each one of them has put the effort in all year.
“We have a good, talented squad that will give me headaches leading up to Saturday morning. We’ve had to submit our team sheet but that team sheet could change come Saturday morning. I’ve confidence that I have girls on the bench that can make an impact too.”
Today’s game will bring an end to what’s been a long, drawn out campaign which saw the squad begin training back at the beginning of November.
“It’s not just turning up twice a week for training, it’s the effort they put in off the field and between the sessions,” McDermott said.
“We introduced strength and conditioning for them and that takes a massive effort from each of the girls. That’s really showing now.
“It’s been nine enjoyable months which have flown by and I know the girls themselves have really enjoyed it.”
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