Scullion praises Saffron resilience

ANTRIM showed serious character and resilience to get over the line against a determined Derry team and capture their sixth ever Ulster Junior title last weekend and joint manager Chris Scullion is embracing the “incredible feeling.”

It’s been a season to remember so far for the Saffrons, who claimed the Division Four league title as well and have yet to taste defeat.

“It’s an incredible feeling,” said Scullion, who takes the team alongside Michael Devlin.

“Winning a provincial title is always special, but this one means a lot because of the resilience the girls showed. We didn’t start the game the way we wanted, missed a lot of chances, found ourselves behind at half time.

“The team dug deep and found a way to turn it around. It’s a great reward for the hard work that’s gone in all season. Credit to Derry, they played some really fluid football and caused us a lot of problems, especially in the first half.

“We went in at half time a point down, and it took us a while to settle into the game. It was a real battle out there, and it wasn’t until the second half that we started to find our rhythm.”

Maria O’Neill top scored for Antrim and finished with a personal tally of 2-2 on a day when just four points separated the sides. While O’Neill may have been the difference, Scullion was quick to point out the efforts made right across the team.

“Maria is an outstanding player. Her second goal was a real turning point in the game; it gave us that bit of breathing space heading into the final ten minutes. She’s a constant threat and has been incredibly consistent for us all season,” he continued.

“But it was very much a team effort. Theresa Mellon’s goal gave us a huge lift at a crucial time, and the likes of Ciara Brown, Ana Mulholland, and Áine Lynch all made massive contributions throughout.

“Lara Dahunsi made a brilliant impact off the bench, scoring two vital points when we needed them. And a special mention to Áine Kelly, she was a late call-up on the bus down and stepped in to play brilliantly. That shows the depth and character we have in this group.”

It’s now onto the All-Ireland series and Antrim will be eyeing up a third piece of silverware for the season.

They begin their campaign with a trip to Longford while they’ll also face London and Carlow in the four-team group.

“We’re really looking forward to the All-Ireland series,” Scullion continued. “There’s great energy in the camp after this win, and the girls are hungry to keep pushing on.

“We know the All-Ireland series will bring another level of challenge, but days like these give us the confidence that we can compete and grow as a group. The focus now is recovery and building momentum for the next stage.”