Lidl NFL Division 4 final
Antrim 1-19 Leitrim 2-6
Orlaith Prenter was in excellent scoring form as the Moneyglass ace kicked 0-8 against Leitrim at Parnell Park to guide Antrim to their first Lidl NFL Division 4 title. It’s been a while in coming after Antrim lost previous finals in 2014, 2016 and 2019 but any nervousness they may have had going into Saturday’s final was quickly dismissed.
Leitrim won of competition back in 2010 but despite the best efforts of team captain Michelle Guckian and Ailbhe Clancy, Jonny Garrity’s side never really looked like winning this one as Antrim were simply on a different level.
It was Leitrim who were first off the mark with back-to-back points from Clancy and Vivienne Egan but Antrim sprang into action and Lara Dahunsi opened their account with a fine point before corner-forward Bronagh Devlin got on the end of a slick attack and hammered the ball to the back of the net to give her side a 4th minute lead.
Prenter increased the Antrim advantage with a perfectly executed free and they appeared to be gaining early control but Leitrim found the perfect response and Megan McGovern released Guckian for a Leitrim goal on eight minutes.
Cathy Carey for Antrim and her opposite number Guckian traded scores to leave it evenly balanced at the end of the opening quarter but the Saffrons stepped it up a gear as they hit three unanswered points with Bronagh Devlin and Orlaith Prenter 0-2 the scorers.
Prenter and Dahunsi responded to an Ailbhe Clancy free and Leitrim had a great opportunity to get right back into contention but Leah Fox dragged a Leitrim penalty wide of the left-hand post with just two minutes remaining of the opening half.
Star of the show! Orlaith Prenter gave another polished display, ending up with eight points
This left Antrim 1-8 to 1-4 ahead at the interval and Prenter increased that advantage to five on the restart with her fifth point of the game before her St. Ergnat’s colleague, Maria O’Neill added her name to the score-sheet.
Cathy Carey and the excellent Prenter added further points as Antrim increased their lead and they looked to have matters wrapped up but Leitrim came storming back into contention with a 1-1 salvo from the excellent Ailbhe Clancy to set a few nerves rattling amongst the Antrim faithful.
Those doubts were quickly dispelled however as Antrim finished the game strongly as they outscored Leitrim 0-7 to 0-1 O’Neill 0-3, Prenter 0-2, Carey and Laura Agnew all on target.
Once again Orlaith Prenter led the way for Antrim with a virtuoso display of point taking but this was a great all round team performance with every player playing her part in an excellent victory.
Manager Emma Kelly stated the importance of this Antrim win and playing in a higher division in the League to complement their promotion to the Intermediate level in the Championship.
The Saffrons delivered in style and look capable of competing in the higher division and will relish the prospect of competing at Intermediate level.
ANTRIM: A McCann; D Coleman, E Ferran, N McIntosh; A Keenan, C Brown, S O’Neill; A Mulholland, Á Tubridy; T Mellon, C Carey (0-3), L Dahunsi (0-2); B Devlin (1-1), O Prenter (0-8, 2 frees), M O’Neill (0-4)
Subs: O Corr for A Tubridy (38), G McLaughlin for T Mellon (40), L Agnew (0-1) for B Devlin (46), C McKenna for S O’Neill (56)
LEITRIM: M Monaghan; J Maye, C Tyrrell, S Reynolds; R Rooney, C Bruen, C Le Guen; M McGovern (0-1), N Tighe; L O’Dowd, M Guckian (1-1), A Clancy (1-3, 0-2 frees); V Egan (0-1), L Fox, E Bruen.
Subs: B O’Rourke for V Egan (41), A Gilmartin for N Tighe (43), S Quinn for L Fox (44), R McHugh for A Clancy (56), D Stenson for K Bruen (58)
REFEREE: Justin Murphy (Cork)
