Playing field is levelling in Donegal ladies football - Maureen O’Donnell 

Maureen O’Donnell believes the Donegal ladies SFC landscape is beginning to alter but doesn’t see it shifting significantly enough this term to deny Termon landing a third title on the bounce. 

Glenfin - the competition’s other big hitter in the last decade - toppled out of the running last weekend when they were held to a draw by the emerging Naomh Conaill at Páirc Taobhoige. 

The Glenties girls’ reward for that brilliant result is a semi-final meeting with Termon this Sunday morning at the Burn Road. 

The other last-four battle sees Moville, a side that last lifted the SFC back in 2016, take on St Eunan’s, another outfit beginning to find real traction at this grade once more. 

The Letterkenny girls top the charts, overall, with 13 crowns won in a staggering 14-year period between 1992 and 2005. Still, they haven’t returned to the top of the mountain in 19 long years. They did reach the 2013 final but were easily tossed aside by Termon. 

Former Termon and Donegal ace O’Donnell says that a serious amount of work at underage, in Donegal clubs over the last decade, is now really starting to bear fruit. 

“It’s very positive in the fact that it is becoming a little more competitive at senior grade,” said O’Donnell.  

“Outside that sort of top two or even three with Moville, the standards have certainly improved with so many sides. 

“There are probably two bars in motion here - the one at the top and the one at the bottom. The bar is rising, like I said, below, but the standard that was set by the likes of Termon and Glenfin is also lowering a little. But that was inevitable really. 

“Like, you’re talking about two unique sets of players, just generational teams. Glenfin have lost girls in recent  times and Termon will also begin to experience that too at some stage. 

“When the times comes and the likes of Geraldine McLaughlin, Emer Gallagher, Nicole McLaughlin, Roisin McCafferty and so on are out of the mix, the level will of course drop. 

“St Eunan’s are getting stronger once more, Moville are still at a consistent and high level. 

“Even without Niamh McLaughlin, I still think the pace and quality Moville have up front, in Niamh Hegarty in particular, I can’t see Eunan’s handling that over the hour. So I see Moville getting back to another final. 

“Glenties, I was very impressed with them the last day. They are operating without Amy Boyle Carr but still have real energy and are a really young side. Danielle McDevitt has serious quality and their keeper Bronagh Gallagher is really good. 

“Still - Termon have a cluster of real experience and quality that should still make it a bridge too far for Naomh Conaill on this occasion. Glenties have nothing to lose and will be up for it. But it would still be a big shock if Termon were to be eliminated at the weekend”. 

On Saturday morning Glenfin, who now drop into the Senior Shield semi-finals, meet Naomh Muire while the other Shield semi-final will be between Aodh Ruadh and St. Nauls.

At Intermediate level, Dungloe welcome Killybegs in their semi-final while Ardara host Gaeil Fhánada.

The IFC Shield semi-finals see Gaoth Dobhair clash with St. Mary’s, Convoy and Buncrana take on Carndonagh.

“Dungloe are dominating Intermediate and are on a real rise,” added O’Donnell. “They are also dominating underage. Tony Boyle is really puling all that together. And they are in Division 1. 

“They played Termon in the Division 1 semi-final this season. So that’s how far they’ve come. So I see them clearing Intermediate and moving up to senior. And that will further strengthen the SFC”. 

In the Junior A semi-finals Naomh Columba are away to Na Dúnaibh while Glenswilly go to Naomh Pádraig Uisce Choinn.

The Junior A Shield semi-finals see Urris up against Malin and Four Masters host Kilcar.

In the Junior B final MacCumhaills take on Red Hughs, in Lifford, while in the Junior B Shield decider, Letterkenny Gaels will take on Aodh Ruadh in the curtain raiser on Saturday morning. 

Meanwhile, O’Donnell says the appointment of Maxi Curran as U-14 Development Officer is another really progressive step in helping Donegal ladies football realise its full potential. 

“That’s going to be a tremendous boost for the county because he’s been involved with ladies football for as long as I casn remember. 

“He was there back in 2003 when we won a Junior All-Ireland. He’s now back in at a really important rank that will be massively influential in aiding progression and development of our young girls”.