Finnegan: plenty of learning to take from Donegal defeat

Westmeath ladies’ football boss Sean Finnegan admitted that Donegal’s extra experience really told in the sides’ Ladies’ NFL Division 1A clash today – particularly in the second-half.

The visiting manager and his players came to Ballybofey with a gameplan and for most of the first-half, it worked to perfection.

But with Donegal’s more seasoned campaigners really stepping up to the mark after the restart, the home side would eventually take full control.

He said: “We’re naturally disappointed to lose the game. We came here thinking that we were in with a shout. We weren’t in a bad position at half-time. The goal was unfortunate and we lost two of our backs, but we responded well.

“Donegal are a very strong, athletic team and they just ran us down. Overall, it was a learning curve for us and it shows where we have to get to. Donegal are a top three or four team, no ifs or buts about that.

“We don’t have the strength in depth that Donegal do, so they exposed that in us. We’re playing intermediate football and this is a big step for us. We’re trying to hang in and it doesn’t get any easier for us, but that’s where we are.”