Team news: Donegal face must-win encounter at home to Cork

SATURDAY – Donegal (H) v Cork, 6.00pm, O’Donnell Park, Letterkenny, (G. McMahon, Mayo)

Donegal, beaten Division 1 finalists last year, must beat champions Cork in Letterkenny on Saturday evening and hope that Galway slip up against Westmeath on Sunday.

A Donegal win will take them three points clear of Galway, before the Tribeswomen take to the field less than 24 hours later.

If Galway and Donegal finish level on 13 points each after the weekend, Galway will go through having kicked more points (16) in their draw with Donegal in round 2.

Matters could be complicated further if both Galway and Donegal win, and Mayo draw at home to Monaghan.

In that case, three teams will be level on 13 points each, meaning that score difference will come into play.

Donegal currently boast the best score difference of the trio (+50), compared to Mayo (+9) and Galway (+8) ahead of the weekend’s games.

Donegal’s weekend meeting with Cork is the first time that the counties have clashed since last year’s classic League final at Parnell Park, which the Rebelettes won by just a point.

A win for Cork would see Mayo qualify for the semi-finals. 

Donegal team: 

1	Roisin McCafferty	St John’s Liverpool
2	Treasa Doherty	Carndonagh
3	Nicole McLaughlin	Termon
4	Olive McCafferty	Termon
5	Blathnaid McLaughlin	Moville
6	Ciara Hegarty	Moville
7	Aoife McDonnell	N.Conaill
8	Katy Herron	Glenfin
9	Grainne Houston	Glenfin
10	Karen Guthrie	Glenfin
11	Niamh Hegarty	Moville
12	Sarah Jane McDonald	Moville
13	Ciara Grant	St Eunans
14	Yvonne Bonner	Glenfin
15	Geraldine McLaughlin	Termon

Cork team: 

1	Martina O’Brien	Clonakilty
2	Aisling Kelleher	St. Valentines
3	Aisling Barrett	Donoughmore
4	Emma Spillane	Bantry Blues
5	Beatrice Casey	Araglen Desmonds Bui
6	Eimear Meaney	Mourneabbey
7	Shauna Kelly	Araglen Desmonds Bui
8	Melissa Duggan	Dohenys
9	Aishling Hutchings	Fermoy
10	Brid O’Sullivan	Mourneabbey
11	Laura Cleary	Éire Óg
12	Orlagh Farmer	Midleton
13	Chloe Collins	Dromtarriffe
14	Áine O’Sulliva	Beara
15	Orla Finn	Kinsale