Antrim supervisor Emma Kelly believes her staff have raised requirements within the county as they claimed their first ever NFL Division 4 title with victory over Leitrim.
he Saffrons have impressed 12 months on 12 months however missed out within the 2014, 2016 and 2019 finals. Orlaith Prenter shot 0-8 to make sure they lastly claimed this elusive piece of silverware at Parnell Park yesterday. And Kelly is aware of the significance of including success upon success as Antrim hold constructing.
“The league has at all times been a goal. Even for the years that I performed, it was at all times ‘the league, the league, the league’,” mentioned Kelly. “Simply to recover from the road right this moment, I’m simply delighted for the women. I do know Cathy Carey doesn’t like folks listening to about, ‘Oh, she’s been right here throughout’, however the likes of Tubs (Áine Tubridy) has been right here for years as nicely. Anna McCann and the likes, however there’s loads of women which were enjoying underage up and so they’ve caught at it and caught at it.”
“I’m simply glad that we’ve gotten to Division 3 now and intermediate soccer in championship. I hope now that we’ve raised the usual in Antrim that we will proceed to progress. You’ll be able to see the younger women we’re bringing on are simply nearly as good. It’s nice to have energy in depth.”
Bronagh Devlin discovered the web and Antrim took a 1-8 to 1-4 lead into half-time. Michelle Guckian scored the Leitrim objective however Leah Fox missed from the penalty spot. That meant Leitrim have been chasing the sport into the second half and regardless of Ailbhe Clancy’s objective, they’d left themselves with an excessive amount of to do.
Leitrim had gained their maiden Division 4 title again in 2010 however their wait for one more goes on.
“What we got down to do was get the additional recreation of the semi-final. As soon as we accomplished that problem, the following problem was to get the additional two video games by reaching the ultimate,” mentioned Leitrim supervisor Jonny Garrity. “We did that, we’re delighted to have performed that. One thing I’ve to continually remind the women off is how early we’re on this journey. That is our first ever defeat as a staff.
“It’s our first 12 months and we’re coming in opposition to a staff that’s three or 4 years down the road with their administration staff, which are using the crest of a wave after profitable an All-Eire final 12 months.”
SCORERS – Antrim: O Prenter 0-8 (2f); B Devlin 1-1; M O’Neill 0-4; C Carey 0-3; L Dahunsi 0-2; L Agnew 0-1. Leitrim: A Clancy 1-3 (2f); M Guckian 1-1; M McGovern, V Egan 0-1 every.
ANTRIM – A McCann; D Coleman, E Ferran, N McIntosh; A Keenan, C Brown, S O’Neill; A Mulholland, Á Tubridy; T Mellon, C Carey, L Dahunsi; B Devlin, O Prenter, M O’Neill. Subs: O Corr for Tubridy, G McLaughlin for Mellon (each 39), L Agnew for Devlin (47), C McKenna for S O’Neill (56).
LEITRIM – M Monaghan; J Maye, C Tyrrell, S Reynolds; R Rooney, C Bruen, C Le Guen; M McGovern, N Tighe; L O’Dowd, M Guckian, A Clancy; V Egan, L Fox, E Bruen. Subs: B O’Rourke for Egan (40), A Gilmartin for Tighe, S Quinn for Fox (each 43), R McHugh for Clancy (56), D Stenson for Okay Bruen (58).
REF – J Murphy (Cork).
