TG4 All Ireland LGFA Junior final – Antrim v Wicklow
Antrim captain Aislinn McFarland speaks to Paul McIntyre
It’s been quite the year for the Antrim Senior Ladies team. This Sunday they will take to the field of Croke Park on All-Ireland final day for the fourth time in twelve years, but back at the start of the season few would’ve predicted such a fixture being pencilled in for the Saffron’s.
Damien McConville’s unexpected departure on the eve of the 2021 season saw the Antrim Ladies board turn to senior player Emma Kelly who didn’t have to think twice when offered the post and team captain Aislinn McFarland spoke of the importance of an appointment from within.
Absolute credit to Emma (Kelly) and Kayla (Trainor).
Emma’s been someone who has been around Antrim for years. I think the only person she hasn’t coached in this team is Cathy (Carey), so it’s been good in that sense, she knows everybody she knew what she was coming into, she knew what was going wrong in a sense as she was involved in the panel as a player last year, so her coming in as a manager has actually been a blessing in that she knew what we wanted to change and she knew where we wanted to go and the results kind of say everything that we actually got there and I think we are putting a wee bit of pride back into the Antrim Ladies football jersey which has been a long time coming” added the Saffron full back.
This will be the skipper’s second All-Ireland final appearance. McFarland is one of five survivors from the 2016 defeat to Longford and despite playing her club football in Down with Bredagh, McFarland sees this as an advantage and enjoys the cross-county element part of her game.
“I personally really enjoy it and I think Michelle (Magee) obviously she’s the same, she’s Caryduff. I think you know it allows you to play with different players. You know it allows you to play with different players and you can play against all the Down girls you want, and you know there are seven or eight Bredagh girls on the Down team so I know what sort of football they play so playing in Antrim gives me a new experience,” said McFarland.
But despite playing her club football in Down, playing for county for Antrim was a topic that was never up for debate and she explains.
“We were brought up as Antrim kids. My Daddy is North Antrim, Mummy is Ballycastle so it was never a question for me.”
Another key factor in the run to the final is the togetherness of the squad. Any lingering club rivalries have been left at the door and McFarland feels that new found team spirit has helped to contribute to the feel-good factor that currently exists in the squad.
“In a way that’s kind of been a good thing about having the captain role this year. It takes the club rivalries out of it because I don’t have anyone to be a rival against apart from Michelle”. I’ve spoken about this before. This is the first year the club has not been mentioned. It doesn’t matter where you’re from. If you’re a good enough footballer, if you’re playing well, you’re gonna play. And that’s been a really big thing for us this year and been something that’s changed the last couple of years with clubs kinda getting a little bit too involved in it” continued McFarland.
But Sunday is all about the result and also the positive impact that it could bring.
“It’s not about a one year plan. It’s about bringing a bit of pride back in the Antrim jersey. Getting the girls a bit of confidence. The last couple of years the turnover of managers, turnover of players, it’s been so inconsistent. Emma and Kayla have brought together a really good squad of players and consistency. Emma talks about the 15 players on the pitch at any one time, but there is a panel of 30 girls and that’s the main thing for us. It’s about making sure everyone is getting their fair share and everyone is being involved in it and I think that’s one of the main reasons why we are where we are at the minute” added the 25-year-old school teacher.
