CHRISTMAS preparations are a little bit different for Downings this year. Putting the fairy or the star on the top of the tree is not necessarily the priority as the community prepare to get behind its senior ladies’ football team ahead of their bid for All-Ireland junior glory tomorrow.
The Ulster champions face their Limerick and Munster counterparts Mungret, St Paul’s in the Parnell Park decider hoping to become the first Donegal team to bring the All-Ireland junior title back to Tír Chonaill, where it would take pride of place on top of the tree.
For Na Dunaibh captain Michelle Wilkin, it certainly has been a different build-up to Christmas and at times it feels very surreal to think they are on the cusp of All-Ireland glory.
“I definitely think it [Christmas] has not been at the top of our priority list this year until the final is over, then our main focus will turn to Christmas and I don’t think it will feel real until it’s all over and we have a moment to sit and actually think about the past few months,” said Wilkin.
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As one of the older players on the team, Downings’ success has been extra special for Wilkin, who says she never thought she would have picked up an Ulster medal and now an All-Ireland title is up for grabs, adding that their extra-time Ulster final win was a special moment.
“Our main goal was always Donegal and to finally go on to win that was brilliant, but to then go on and win Ulster was amazing and something I didn’t think I’d achieve in my playing days,” she said.
“There’s been a lot of stand-out moments throughout our championship campaign and one that may stand out more so than the rest was getting over the line after extra-time for the Ulster title.
“To see all the team come together and not give up until that final whistle and to have the kids from the underage teams singing in the stands to encourage us was incredible.”
They had to dig deep for that one-point victory over Warrenpoint back in November, Shannon McGroddy’s early point at the start of the extra-time the only score for either side, but it proved to be the winner, and it is that resilience and character that Wilkin hopes they will be remembered for this season when the curtain finally comes down on it, whatever tomorrow’s result.
“I hope we are remembered for our fight and passion that we’ve had throughout this championship campaign. The group of girls we have on the team are a great bunch of girls and should be so proud of all their hard work they’ve put into the club this year, all their hard work has now paid off and we’ve an All-Ireland final to look forward to.
“There’s been a great feeling about training this past few weeks, the spirits are all very high with everyone and it’s great to see everyone enjoying the training. We’ve been out three, maybe four times a week, so we’ve definitely not changed the routine or slackened off.
“I definitely do believe we can go all the way, to get to this stage we have to believe in ourselves and all the hard work we’ve done since the beginning of the year.
‘‘I think we all know our job on the day and if we stick to that and play to the best of our ability as a team then hopefully that’ll be enough to get us over the line.
“I think a lot of people may not have heard of Na Dunaibh (Downings) and I think the success of this team this year will have got our name out there.
‘‘I hope that the younger teams look up to us now and see that anything can be achieved, when you put the hard work in and hopefully it’ll encourage younger players to give Gaelic a go.”
