BY RONAN SCOTT

National Football League Division one

Waterford v Donegal

Saturday, Venue tbc, 1pm

Donegal may have started their league campaign with a 4-7 to 2-9 loss away to Mayo, but Deirdre Foley is feeling positive.

“It was a tough start to the season, and we knew it was going to be.

“We have only eight back from last year. With that in mind it was a good performance. I think we did very well.”

One of the reasons why she is feeling positive is the influx of younger players onto the team. They made a big impression against Mayo.

Foley said: “Those younger players were making their debut in division one. A lot of the older players made their debut in division two, so it was harder for our current players. It was much tougher than it was ten years ago.

“They are going to make mistakes, and they have to learn, but it is a process and we have been saying that since we got together.

“We have been relying on the same squad for a long time. For the future we need to move on and progress with the younger players.”

Foley said that the younger players not only have the talent, but they also have the right attitude, and are working hard to help the team.

Some of them were on the squad last year, and while they didn’t get much game time they have stuck around and waited for their chance.

Younger players coming into a team can sometimes create a negative atmosphere, with competition for places leaving some players feeling uncomfortable.

Foley said that that is not the case in Donegal.

“I think that the girls realise that the future is in the young players. Everyone is positive about the newer players coming in to the team. They realise it is not helpful to get competitive with the younger players.”

She also pointed out that there can sometimes be a danger that a team can get stuck in its ways, and get left behind.

“We have had such a great squad for a long time, but we need to make sure that we are going to move on.

“The league is about developing young players, more so than developing the team.

“We will progress the team closer to championship time. We need to get girls up to the right level.”

The next game to do that is this weekend against a Waterford team that beat Galway by the narrowest margins last weekend. They put five goals past the Tribe and that will surely be a stat that Foley and the rest of the Donegal squad will be aware of going into this game.

For Foley, she’s just delighted to be involved at the moment. She’s had her struggles with injuries in the past few years and they have tended to keep her out of the action.

But this year she is feeling good.

“I am in better shape than I have been in previous years. I think I played 60 minutes in total in the league last year. So it is very exciting to be playing this year.

“It is exciting that I am able to play at this stage of the season. I am glad that I am getting the opportunity.”

And while she said that giving the younger players game time is the most important goal for this league run, she did add that staying in division one is goal as well.

“I still think it is important. We have worked hard to keep Donegal in Division one. It is important for the younger players to be able to play at this level.

“We are not going out there just to make up the numbers. We don’t want to lose our standing.

“I have been on the team when we have been relegated. It is hard to play in division two. Division one is where Donegal should be playing.”