Donegal manage to avoid Dublin as they eye first title
DONEGAL manager Maxi Curran says his side are determined to take on and front up against the very best, as the Ulster champions target their first Brendan Martin Cup. On Saturday, Eilish Ward’s goal was enough to secure a narrow 1-13 to 3-6 victory over Kerry at Dr Hyde Park in Group 1 of the TG4 ladies All-Ireland SFC. It means Donegal bypass a potential meeting with reigning All-Ireland champions Dublin in the next round, but Curran says that was never an issue before the weekend. ‘I don’t think that’s what it’s about. You have to take allcomers at this stage. We are in an All-Ireland quarter-final,’ said Curran. ‘If you have realistic ambitions of winning an All-Ireland, which this team does, you have to take on all-comers as and when you meet them. ‘Armagh will be no easy game for us.’ Armagh and Donegal will clash next weekend — one of two quarter-finals up for decision — and Fionnuala McAtamney’s side only advanced to the last eight on scoring difference ahead of Monaghan. Cork were 1-19 to 1-7 winners at Duggan Park in Ballinasloe in the final Group 2 clash but that defeat was still enough to ease Armagh through. ‘It is difficult to celebrate a loss like that and that’s certainly now what we’re doing but it’s good to be in the next round and we did what we had to do to get there,’ said joint-manager McAtamney. Meanwhile, Dublin continue to take aim at back-to-back titles for the first time in their history as they topped Group 4 after victory over last year’s runners-up, Mayo. They already secured the Lidl NFL title this year and goals from Noelle Healy and Nicole Owens helped set up a final eight meeting with Kerry. Dublin manager Mick Bohan was thrilled with his side’s comfortable 3-11 to 1-8 win over Mayo in the repeat of May’s Lidl Division 1 final. ‘We are through and top the group. That was the objective. There were times out there that it was a bit frustrating but we achieved what we came here to do,’ said Bohan. ‘We can’t wait for the quarterfinals. Two weeks and the knockout games start. That is what we have been preparing for,’ he added. Mayo must regroup now ahead of a mouthwatering repeat of the Connacht final against rivals Galway on August 12. And Stephen Glennon watched on as his Galway players produced another demolition job in their 6-17 to 1-6 win over Westmeath in Ballinasloe on Saturday. Despite the loss, Westmeath will play Cork in the quarterfinals, but Galway look very dangerous ahead of their clash with Mayo. ‘We have expected to play Mayo again if things went to plan we’ll have to knuckle down and prepare well for that one,’ said Glennon. ‘They’ll be gunning for us but it would be the same if the shoe was on the other foot. It’s local rivalry, Galway and Mayo, it’ll be the same as always.’