Bronagh has her eyes on promotion

By Niall Gartland

ANTRIM captain Bronagh Devlin says that they’re effectively starting from scratch in Sunday’s Division Four semi-final against Leitrim at Kingscourt in Cavan.

The Saffrons have been in top form to this point, winning all seven of their group stage matches, but they still have to win their semi-final joust to achieve promotion to Division Three.

It would be cruel to miss out but the structures are what they are and Moneyglass girl Bronagh Devlin is content with how things are shaping up.

“So far so good, we’ve won seven out of seven and we’re going into the semi-finals, but it can go either way from here on in.

“We’re in a good place and we’re happy to be in the semi-finals though we’re mindful we’ve won nothing yet so Saturday’s a huge opportunity for us.”

It’s a measure of Antrim’s form that they overcame Leitrim in late February on a scoreline of 2-8 to 1-10, overcoming the reigning All-Ireland Intermediate champions in an excellent game of football.

Devlin said: “We played Leitrim at home just three or four weeks ago, we won but it was a really tough game. They’re a physical team so it took a big effort against them, we put in a good performance and things went our way on the scoreboard.”

The Saffrons are under new management this year with Chris Scullion and Michael Devlin succeeding Emma Kelly, who had led Antrim to back-to-back Ulster Junior Championship titles in 2021 and 2022, All-Ireland Junior success in 2022, and Division Four and Ulster Intermediate titles in 2023.

It was a hugely successful tenure and thankfully the transition has been a smooth one.

“Emma laid the foundations for everyone, she was excellent, and in a way Chris and Mickey are setting their own standards as well.

“They’re obsessed with Gaelic football so they’re the right men for the job and it hasn’t taken them long to make a good impression.”

It was only two years ago that Antrim overcame Tyrone with a classy display in the Ulster Intermediate final at Owenbeg.

In theory there’s no reason why they can’t get back to that level in the near future.

“A couple of years ago we were playing at a higher level,” said Devlin. “So we’re doing our best to get back on track. The league has been going well and we proved in the past we can compete in the higher grades, so hopefully things go to plan for us in the rest of the year.”

Devlin actually sat out 2024 altogether, as did a number of others, but she was always going to return to the fold.

“A few of us stepped away to focus on our clubs and jobs and life basically.

“I wasn’t involved myself, but I missed it, it was weird being out of that routine and I love football so much. It’s good to be back, there’s a sense of freshness and it’s good that we’re pushing on with new faces and new players involved.”