TG4 LGFA All-Ireland Junior Final Preview
By: Niall Kelly
After an emphatic semi-final performance in overcoming Carlow, Antrim ladies for a consecutive year will grace the home of the GAA in the All Ireland Junior Final against Fermanagh. Both teams are no stranger to one another. Having met three times this season, the teams know each other inside out and upside down. Antrim have had the upper hand twice this year with a particularly pleasing performance in the Ulster Final whilst the Erne ladies got the better of the Saffrons in the opening exchanges of the league.
Bronagh and Aine Devlin, who are one of two sets of twins on the panel, are all too aware of the familiarity between the teams and although it could be an advantage, they insist the will be focussed on the job at hand.
“There isn’t much between us, particularly in terms of physicality. It was obviously nice to come out on top in the final as the game was a bit back and forth.”
“Obviously we know them pretty well, but you can never know someone too well. I think both teams probably won’t change too much and yeah it’s nice to have a rough idea of who you’re up against and who you have to defend against. If it comes to a stage where they can read us a bit, then we’re just going to change it up if we need to.
The girls have been enjoying the rigours of the intensity in training and feel that there is a different sense of anticipation at hopefully rectifying the outcome of last year’s final.
“Yeah, there is a different type of buzz at the minute. I know we met Fermanagh before a few times but the fact is that this is an All-Ireland Final at Croke Park. The focus really is for next Sunday and to win an All-Ireland Title. Everyone’s getting along really well and it actually feels like one big club at the minute.
Although they appreciate the honour of plying their trade in Croke Park, they insist that it is just another game and feel that is the mind-set necessary to achieve their goal.
“There are a good few on the panel who have played in Croke many times before next week but there will be others who might find it a bit more nerve wrecking. But it’s just another match, All-Ireland Final or not, no matter where the venue. We just have to play the match and not the occasion.”
The girls have revelled in the enjoyment and increased awareness of Ladies’ Gaelic Football in recent years and with many youngsters seeing the ‘Saffs’ as a source of inspiration in their own budding GAA careers, they are honoured to be a part of it.
“It feels strange but nice at the same time knowing that yeah, the team and us can be an inspiration to younger ones. I know when we were young, from our own club, we looked up to the likes of Cathy (Carey) with that team playing in Croke Park in 2012. It is good to see the young ones coming out and just knowing that they’re there looking up to you, watching you and supporting you.
We at the Saffron Gael wish Bronagh, Aine and the rest of their team mates the best of fortunes for the final! Aontroim abú!