'We believe we can take on anybody on the day' - Niamh McLaughlin

Donegal captain Niamh McLaughlin believes her side are capable of taking on any team in the country on their day, and while she says there were a lot of positives to take in her side’s draw to Kerry, she says they will be going to Waterford with nothing less than a win in mind. 

John McNulty’s team pegged Kerry back in MacCumhaill Park, Ballybofey two weeks ago, as Susanne White held her nerve late on to split the spoils in this TG4 All-Ireland Senior Championship Group 2 opener on a 1-6 to 0-9 scoreline. 

Like the Ulster final against Armagh, Donegal entered this tie as real underdogs, and even though they came out with a draw, McLaughlin admits that her side always goes out to win and not just compete.  

“I think to come back . . . we were two or three points down at one stage against Kerry, so to come back and grind it out was great, and for Susanne White to stick over the point at the end was very good,” said McLaughlin. 

“It’s a funny one to come away with a draw because you kind of want to push on and win, but we’ll take it considering the conditions. 

“We believe in ourselves, and I know there’s a lot of chat about Kerry and different teams and how Donegal are in a transitional period, but we knew that we could frustrate Kerry and I think we did that. Our fitness levels at the minute are very good and I think we’re set up nicely for the type of match that we’re trying to play. 

“So, I think we knew looking back on the game, we were happy, but we knew we have to improve on a lot of areas too.” 

Donegal's last two championship matches have seen a real change in attitude from the outside looking in, with McNulty's side proving to be real competitors with the top teams this year despite serious talk from the start of 2024 regarding Donegal being a team in transition after losing a number of generational talents from the panel due to retirement.

But McLaughlin acknowledges that while the team is young and in a transitional period, she admits that the squad still has a real bit in them to compete.

She also admits that now is a perfect opportunity in Donegal to lay the foundation of something bigger for ladies' football in the county, by putting a structure into place, starting from underage, that will see Donegal competitive year after year going forward.

“It's a different time now than previous years,” McLaughlin said. “Look, it can be strange at times with players retiring and new people coming in, but that's all a part of sport, you don't think about it too much, you have to get on with it very quickly.

“Even with the new management, that’s been a big change for me more than other girls who are new to the panel and weren’t there when Maxi Curran was manager, but these things all come to an end eventually but there’s still something in Donegal that we can use to build for the next few years so we’re successful for the next decade. 

“I think we’re beyond the point now where we’re looking at the team as a year-on-year plan which we maybe did in the past, but that was because we had exceptional players. Now, because we have such a young squad, we have a good chance to get the right processes and build from underage up to be competitive consistently. 

“But even in that, we’ve always had a bit of bite in us in Donegal, we’re not easily beaten, and we have a lot of young girls who have serious athleticism and are stepping up to the mark in what is a demanding place at senior level.”

With Kerry overcoming Waterford last week on a 4-13 to 0-9 scoreline, it’s all to play for in Walsh Park this weekend, and while Donegal will no doubt go in as favourites, McLaughlin reiterates that her side will be aiming to push all the way for a victory. 

“We’re expecting a tough game regardless this weekend,” she said. “Waterford are probably in the same boat as ourselves in terms of being at the same level, but they’ve had the benefit of playing Division 1 football this year, so it’s a ‘winner takes all game’ and we’re looking forward to it. 

“We’re not looking at what Kerry did to Waterford. Kerry are top of the group anyway at the minute, so we have to win in Waterford, that’s it, but our attitude is that we’re going down there to win regardless, that's it.”