Asokuh: 'This win shows how much we’ve come on since we last played Kildare'

Donegal fullback Abigail Temple Asokuh said she was pleased with how much her Donegal side has improved over the course of the season, as they finished their championship campaign with a one-point win over Kildare on Saturday to confirm their senior status for 2025. 

It was always going to be a tough ask for John McNulty’s team considering they were facing the current All-Ireland Intermediate champions and the 2024 Division 2 league winners who also beat Donegal in the league back in January in Letterkenny. 

But it was a different story this time with Donegal taking the victory on a 0-9 to 0-8 scoreline in Cavan, with the Lilywhites only scoring two points in the second half thanks to some brilliant defending, which Asokuh largely led. 

For the MacCumhaills woman, it was just a day of pure joy to show that their side’s hard work has finally paid off. 

“We came here to secure status and that’s what we did,” Asokuh said. “We didn’t want to be stuck next week in another match which would’ve been a relegation final, so it’s good that we can all take a breath and relax now knowing the job’s done.” 

Donegal have put in some stellar performances this season in the championship but were unfortunate not to come away with a number of results, and despite trailing 0-6 to 0-5 points at the break, Donegal never panicked by steamrolling the Lilywhites in the second half, keeping them scoreless for 22 minutes during the second period. 

“I don’t think we were disappointed with the scoreline at half time or the fact we were down by a point, but we were disappointed with how we were playing probably because we knew we could be playing a lot better, but you know if you’re one point down the game’s not over, so we knew we had a lot more in us and thankfully we pulled it off,” she said. 

“I think we were good in the second half with putting the press on, especially on their kickouts, and even if they did win the ball, we were with them all the time, we never gave them time to breath which was great. It was great to see all the turnovers and great to see all the hard work coming through from the last few months at training.” 

Asokuh also praised some of the great scoring on display from her side’s inside forwards, with Susanne White top scoring with six points, with Asokuh also landing her name on the scoreboard. 

“It’s brilliant having a player with firepower like Susanne up there. There were a few high balls kicked in and she caught them clean, so it’s great to have those players like Katy Herron, good strong leaders that help us all the way,” Asokuh admitted. 

“I think for me scoring, it was a one-hit wonder, but it was good to get on the scoreboard in the last game of the season, and the fact we won too I’m happy out.” 

With the season now over for Donegal, Asokuh knows that the panel will take a lot of learnings into next season, with the Donegal fullback pleased with how much the team has come together and improved over the course of the season. 

“I think in the league we were still developing as a team, then in the Ulster final we showed that we have real quality in the team but we just needed to show it on the pitch. 

“Even in the Kerry game, we did really well, and even it shows how much we’ve come on since we last played Kildare, and you look at the difference today, it’s great. 

“Against Waterford, there was a bit of hurt but it was good to redeem ourselves today, we probably should’ve played like we did today down in Waterford, but we’re happy with the win today.”