BY MATTHEW WILSON

Three years after returning as a senior ladies club, St Michael’s are gunning for glory when they meet Red Hughs in the O’Reilly Sports Junior B Final this weekend.

St Michael’s began their Championship campaign with back-to-back defeats against Letterkenny Gaels and Sunday’s opponents Red Hughs.

However, they recovered well and found some form to record three consecutive wins to book their place in the last four, something which club captain Anne Sweeney was pleased with.

“We were very pleased, we just didn’t get off to the best of starts at the beginning of the Championship but luckily we dug deep then and we got the results when they were needed.”

“Once we got that first win under our belt it was like getting a bit of wind in our sails and we got into a good stride and we managed to kick on from there.”

The Bridge residents continued to go from strength to strength, overcoming the challenge of Aodh Ruadh in the semi-final courtesy of a ten-point victory.

The St Michael’s skipper expressed that the scoreline may have flattered her side but insists that they managed to fulfill their aim of reaching the Junior B decider.

“The sem-final was a tough enough game, the scoreline doesn’t really reflect the match itself to be honest as it was a hard fought battle. Aodh Ruadh definitely put it up to us and we just did enough really and truly to get over the line that day”, said Sweeney.

She continued, “we were delighted to get over the line. Our aim at the start of the year was to end up in the Junior B Final so we got a good talking to at half-time that day and went out and pulled up our socks in the second half and dug deep.”

Up next for the Bridge residents is a meeting with Red Hughs in the Junior B Final this Sunday.

The Pairc Aodh Rua outfit got the better of St Michael’s in the opening round of the group stage, getting over the line by the narrowest of margins in a finely balanced encounter.

Sweeney understands the task that lies ahead this weekend but insists that they’re fully committed and they’re going to give it their all.

Having only returned to senior football in 2023, the St Michael’s captain discussed that it would mean a great deal to the group if they were to secure glory this Sunday.

“We’re working well, we’re fully committed. We know it’s going to be a tall order to be honest. Red Hughs had a very good campaign, they went unbeaten in the Championship so we know what’s ahead of us. We’re just hoping to give it our best and do enough hopefully on the day.”

“It would mean the world to our team to get over the line this weekend. We’re quite a new team, this is only our third year up and running so it really would mean the world.”

“We’ve put in a lot of hard work and it would just be lovely to get the result at the end of it.”