Curran relishing Ulster final Sunday

Donegal manager Maxi Curran believes the rivalry built up with Armagh recently will feed into this sides motivation ahead of Sunday’s Ulster final.

Speaking in the build-up to their provincial decider, Curran remarked on how recent clashes between the two counties mean that Sunday will bring a little bit of extra motivation for his squad.

“Going back to that 2017 and even back then McLaughlin’s team of 2015, 2016 There was a couple of Titanic battles with Armagh as well. So like, it’s definitely a rivalry that’s, that’s it’s going a long time and it’s not getting any less feisty either.

“The fact that we lost last year’s final I think that just gives us a wee bit of an extra lift as well, maximum motivation, you know, we felt that we let that one slip, you know? We only lost by a point in the end, but we conceded about 2-4 in the space of six or seven minutes, maybe through the first half. And we left ourselves too big a mountain to claim and it was a game there was seven yellow cards in as well.

“There was never a stage in the game where it was, you know, it was level pegging even numbers-wise with the first yellow card after 20 seconds. So you know, it was just real topsy-turvy and I don’t think there was any flow to that game.

“It was helter skelter and like I don’t think this one will be the same. That was a real rarity, that game.”

The Donegal boss was sure to praise the talents of some of the individuals he’ll be facing off against this weekend as well.

“They have a star studded forward line. The likes of Aimee Mackin will make any team in the country, she’s one of the best footballers in Ireland and Aoife McCoy, another really good player who’s caused us a lot of bother over the over the last couple of years. In midfield with Caroline O’Hanlon and Blaithin Mackin they have really, really good players, top quality players. So now we know it’s a massive challenge for us.”

When it comes to his own squad, Curran believes the steady progress can culminate with a big result, like a win Sunday would be.

“We set out in 2019 and we played our first game in the national league in Croke Park. We had seven girls making their debut that day. You know, the 20 season and the 21 season were not really seasons or such so you know there’s a couple of girls that while they’re about maybe three or four years they’re still very much finding their feet at county level.

“I thought Eileen McGinley was brilliant on Sunday at full back, she was nominated for an all star last year, made team of the league now two years running so she’s really coming into her own. She only made her debut in 2019 so you know that’s a relatively new player for us.

“Tanya Kennedy alongside her at fullback in the last year I thought was super as well, she’s only come back after after a bit of a sabbatical so it’s, it’s while it may not be younger girls, they’re definitely needed.

“They’re new to the group. You know, Shauna McFadden came on, Tara Hegarty came on, and then obviously you might look at all the headlines from last weekend with her salvo and look, she was brilliant on the day and you know really happy for her she that you know, she had a she had a good league as well and she contributed scores regularly but nothing really happened for on Sunday.

“So yeah, from that perspective, you know, the newer girls I think are equipping themselves quite well and they’re revitalising our group and maybe freshening up the thing so it makes it for a nice mix.”

Donegal face Armagh in Clones Sunday at 3.45pm for the Ulster title.

Formerly DCU Journalism, covering mainly Athlone teams for finalwhistle.ie

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