The Moneyglass machine keeps on trucking

By Michael McMullan

MONEYGLASS continue their dominance of the Antrim club scene and now have their heads down ahead of their Ulster opener against Bredagh later this month.

Goals from Cathy Carey, Maria O’Neill and Bronagh Devlin put them on their way to a 3-16 to 1-7 win over St Brigid’s.

After winning the 2020 intermediate title, Moneyglass have bossed the senior grade since.

“Our first target of the year was to make sure we retain the title,” Carey told Gaelic Life.

“It’s just getting over that hurdle because we knew that St Brigid’s were coming with a bit of a threat.

“It’s good just to continue on, it’s just good knowing that you’ve got training this week and that everybody’s up for an Ulster Quarter-Final now coming up.”

Ace scorer Órlaith Prenter made a return from her travels in July and with a glut of group games, manager Charlie O’Kane – assisted by former Donegal boss Maxi Curran this year – was able to blood new players from the underage ranks.

The teenagers, according to Carey, are pushing into the team on merit. She puts that down to the standards at underage and the expectations at senior level.

Carey is the driving force behind the underage development with other players dropping in to take a session when required.

“Hopefully we’re just creating a wee bit of a culture that way,” he said of their aspirations of keeping the club in a healthy state in the long-term.

With the buzz of another Antrim success banked, the focus quickly switches to Ulster.

After losing last year’s Ulster final, Bredagh will have the bit between their teeth but Carey sees all opponents in Ulster as a challenge.

“As soon as you step foot in Ulster, it’s anybody’s game,” she said. “We’ve learned that over the few years that we’ve been in it. I don’t think anybody you get is an easy draw.

“Bredagh… they’ll be going for it this year after getting beat in the Ulster final last year (to Clann Éireann) you would imagine. So, it’ll be a tough first outing for us.”

Away from the pitch, Carey is thankful of the support from the community at the business time of the year.

Any teams still training are doing something right and in contention for the bigger prizes.

“We’ll keep our heads down in camp and let everybody else enjoy themselves,” she said of their focus on Bredagh.

“We’ll look forward to it too obviously. It’s nice to have that support around you and a nice feeling about Moneyglass.

“It’s a quick turnaround but it’s better that, I suppose, than it dragging out.”

The Ulster competition begins this weekend with holders Clann Éireann travelling to Monaghan champions Emyvale to see who will face Kinawley in the quarter finals.

The other game takes place on Friday night in Owenbeg with last year’s Ulster Intermediate champions Steelstown taking on Ballymaguigan to see who will represent the Oakleaf County against Lurgan of Cavan in the Ulster series.