Antrim hail their new blood after league success

Lidl National Football League

Antrim 2-7 Fermanagh 0-11

By Deniese O’Flaherty
ANTRIM joint manager Michael Devlin hailed the new players who have come on board as they captured the Lidl National Football League Division 4 crown.

“We brought 16 new players into the panel. Out of last year’s only six started today. It’s completely new,” said Devlin.

“This group of girls have been excellent for us. They’ve worked hard and we’ve laid our own foundation with this group of players and we’ll keep building on it.

“If we are honest we think we only played seven minutes of football today and it was the seven minutes at the end. But beating the All-Ireland Intermediate champions twice will have a huge physiological effect.”

A superb goal from substitute Aoibhinn Monaghan was key to Antrim’s success. Down by two points in the 52nd minute Monaghan found the back of the net with a fantastic finish to edge her side ahead.

“A two point lead is a killer,” said Fermanagh manager CJ McGourty. “I know Michael (Devlin) well, I’ve a good friendship with him. He’ll probably say they stole it off us. I thought for large parts we were very good. It was two evenly matched teams. We got a rub of the green last year in Croke Park against Louth, so there are twists and turns.

“We had a free shot at it today. We won’t lose too much sleep over it tonight. We probably wanted a trophy and we didn’t get it. We now re-set for the championship. We were a wee bit off it today, in certain aspects. We didn’t take our chances.”

With sharpshooter Eimear Smyth in fine form Fermanagh led by 0-9 to 1-3 at the break, with Maria O’Neill getting the goal for Antrim after nine minutes.

Fermanagh extended their lead to four in the 37th minute with a point from Lisa Maguire. Antrim needed scores but couldn’t get them.

Antrim got their first score of the second half in the 43rd minute when Bronagh Devlin fired over a free; their first score in 24 minutes of football. Fermanagh’s attack forced Antrim into the concession of frees which Smyth duly pointed. She scored her seventh point of the game in the 49th minute to put a goal between the sides.

Fermanagh full-back Ciara Clarke was sin-binned in the 52nd minute and one minute later Antrim took the lead; substitute Monaghan fired her stunning strike to the net.

In an eventual final four minutes Antrim were reduced to 14 in the 56th minute when Aine Tubridy received a yellow card. Fermanagh were dealt a blow two minutes from time when Joanne Doonan was sin-binned to leave them with 13.

O’Neill sealed the win for Antrim with a point in the 59th minute.

Scorers

Antrim: M O’Neill 1-1, B Devlin 0-4 (4f), A Monaghan 1-0, L Dahunsi, L Agnew 0-1 each.

Fermanagh: E Smyth 0-7 (1’45, 4f), L Maguire, J Doonan 0-2 each.

ANTRIM: A Devlin; N McIntosh, M Blaney, M Mulholland; S O’Neill, C Brown, D Coleman; A Mulholland, Á Tubridy; T Mellon, L Dahunsi, A Kelly; B Devlin, N Jones, M O’Neill.
Subs: L Agnew for Jones (35), A Monaghan for Kelly (36), C McKenna for Coleman (47).

FERMANAGH: A Haren; S McQuaide, C Clarke, E Keenan; A O’Brien, C Murphy, C Bogue; N McManus, M McGloin; S Barrett , C Martin, L Maguire; J Doonan, E Smyth, A McCabe.
Subs: S McCarville for O’Brien (47), E Murphy for Keenan (54), S Barrett for Boyle (55), B Smyth for McCabe (57).

Referee: Eoghan O’Neill (Kildare).