Dublin's Niamh Donlon says Ladies Football is in a good place
Michael Bolton
Going in as the team everyone is hunting is not new for Niamh Donlon and Dublin, and it is a position they will relish as the championship gets underway.
Donlon was key for their defence as they defeated Leinster rivals Meath in the final to win another Brendan Martin Cup, her second, along with the 203 triumph.
This season has had its challenges for Dublin. A league campaign where experienced players were missing and injured saw them relegated to Division Two.
However, Dublin bounced back to win Leinster, as Donlon praised the standards in the game.
"With Leinster, we take that really seriously. We don't take it for granted that we have won it a few times. It is a really competitive competition to get yourself sorted for All-Ireland and get seeded, but also we pride ourselves in our Leinster campaign where we come from.
"We were disappointed we got relegated to Division Two. We were trying a lot of new players, we didn't have a full-strength team, and a few girls were coming back later with injuries.
"The depth is there. We should always have some sort of depth with the population we have, so we are really happy with the girls that are coming through.
"Every team is playing better under new rules; it has made the competition even more competitive. They have added another level to the game. Ladies Football as a whole is definitely progressing in the right direction."
As Dublin prepare for a trip to Mayo on Sunday, they will also be hit with AFLW departures.
Sinéad Goldrick and Jennifer Dunne are currently preparing for the upcoming AFLW season, as over 40 Irish players are on squads across the competition.
As we come to the business end of the season, some of the most talented players in Ladies Football will not be involved, in what is also the first year of the new rules.
Australia is not in the cards for Donlon, as finishing college and starting a new job is the priority alongside being in action for the Dubs.
With the player drain showing no signs of stopping, the Dublin defender is unsure of what can be done to help teams who lose players, but hopes to see players come back in the future.
"You want the players playing our sport. It is disappointing to see them go elsewhere, but you can't hold people to places where they don't want to be.
"If they want to take their opportunities that they have got from LGFA, fair enough. They are entitled to do that. You want to see them come back and play at some stage.
"Everyone is allowed to take their opportunities they get. It came from being successful in the LGFA; maybe if there is some sort of agreement that the LGFA get something back from the teams that take them in Australia, I am not sure how they would work that."
