'I couldn't have asked for any more, they gave everything they had' - John McNulty

Donegal manager John McNulty admits that he couldn’t have asked for any more of his senior team following Sunday’s 0-17 to 1-13 Ulster final defeat to Armagh after extra-time in Clones. 

With two minutes remaining in the match, it was the Orchard County’s substitute Niamh Reel who sent over the decisive free that clinched the title for Armagh. 

Despite being massive underdogs going into the match, Donegal had come back from four points down late in normal time with a last-minute goal from Kathy Herron and a final point from Susanne White enough to send the game to extra-time, but it was not to be for the green and gold county as they lost their Ulster crown in the Clones sunshine. 

“I think the girls were absolutely brilliant today, everything we planned tactically, they carried it out to a tee, I couldn’t ask for any more of them,” manager John McNulty said on reflection.  

“The girls have been putting in a serious effort since late November when we were running in the muck and the rain, we had an awful lot of work done up to this point, and I told them that before the game. I just wanted them to believe in themselves before they went out onto that pitch and I think they did that, they showed serious belief.” 

The former Kilcar manager said that while it’s a bitter pill to swallow at the minute, he knows his team will take more positives than negatives from this game and hopes they will carry the belief that they can go toe-to-toe with any team in the country. 

“I think there are two sides to it. When there’s a trophy there to be won, I can’t see past winning that trophy, that’s all we want to do,” he said. “But I suppose when you sit back, and reflect, you have to say we are all very proud of the team and we can’t be feeling sorry for ourselves, we have to get back out training and go again after a few days. 

“The girls will now see that they can actually match any team in Ireland.” 

McNulty praised his entire panel for leaving everything out on the field in Monaghan as he pays particular attention to his entire defense, mainly full-back Abigail Temple Asoko, and team captain and half-forward Niamh McLaughlin for stepping up to the mark when her team needed her the most. 

“Great credit has to go to the younger players for stepping up too. Abigail, the way she played, she’s been like that all year for us, but she really stood up today when it counted,” McNulty admitted.  

“The whole defense were putting everything they had into it, they were sprinting to the ball, they were putting tackles, turning them over and getting up the field . . . they were excellent. 

“We talk about leaders and players bringing the game to Armagh today, you have to talk about Niamh McLaughlin, I thought she was excellent. When we needed someone to win that ball and carry it up the field, she was always there. 

“Even when we were four points down and we needed a winner, for Susanne (White) and Kathy (Herron) to get on the ball and get them scores, it was brilliant to watch. So, throughout the team, we had a lot of stars, we just want to grow that now, and while we’re disappointed, we have to look forward to the All-Ireland series and put in a similar type of performance going forward. 

“Look, it’s only natural to be upset when you lose an Ulster final, but I think it’s good to take that disappointment and start to rebuild and look forward into the future and get back at it.”