Charlie OKane is in his second year as manager of the Antrim club senior Championship and League Champions and Ulster finalist of 2022 St Ergnats Moneyglass. This week Saffron Gael’s Elaine Kelly spoke to him as he prepares for the Championship for a second season.

Question: Following what was a very successful 2022 campaign, what is your ambitions for 2023 with the Moneyglass Senior Ladies team.

Answer:  The aim for 2023 is to progress. To improve and be better than we were last year. We have our sights set on again winning both the league and championship in Antrim but I have no doubt we will face some stiff competition in both. 

Question: As Moneyglass prepare to defend their Antrim title what are your expectations and how has Moneyglass prepared for it.

Answer: The championship will be tough. Being the current champions puts a target on our backs. Everyone will be coming to beat us. We will just go out and play our game and take each game as it comes.

Question: Who are the teams that have impressed you during this year’s Antrim league and what teams carry the greatest threat in the championship’

Answer: St. Bridget’s and Glenravel are improving every year and I’m sure St. Paul’s will have something to say about who wins it this year.

Question: Everyone talks about how tight a group the Moneyglass Senior team are. Is this the case and how much does that benefit the group in training and in games.

Answer: Yes it’s a very tight knit group. The togetherness within the squad and the wider support team is unreal , such as the main sponsor Boyds Service Station and other local businesses who are always happy to support the girls. These are  all critical to the recent success we have had. 

Question: What a run you, the management team and the Moneyglass ladies had last season. History makers being the first Antrim Senior team to play in an Ulster Final. You only lost out at the Final in the last few minutes of a fantastic end to end game and it was lost to a very experienced Donaghmoyne Co Monaghan team.  Has that performance given you and the team the confidence going into this year’s Antrim campaign of retaining the trophies and hopefully push on to collect a first Ulster title.

Answer: We would hope we have learnt from that game and improved for the year ahead. Last year we were very inexperienced at the Ulster table but if we can come through Antrim we will hopefully be better for last year’s defeat. 

Question: What is the secret of you and your management team keeping a big panel of players happy and this senior team strong and together.

Answer: There’s no big secret. The squad, my management team of Donal and Annmarie and myself are all focused on the same goal. That of bringing success to Moneyglass. When everyone is pulling in the same direction for a common cause the natural outcome is a united group.