Issue link: http://digitaleditions.uberflip.com/i/1411448
30 | AUTUMN 2021 | www.ladiesgaelic.ie MANAGER FOCUS By DARAGH SMALL E mma Kelly is looking for her Antrim players to find their voices again. The once great full-back now roams the sidelines and, from there, she looks to lead a young group back to the Promised Land. Despite bringing a big support and plenty of hopes and dreams to Croke Park this year, it just didn't happen for the Saffrons on the big day. Wicklow had been beaten in the 2020 TG4 All- Ireland Junior Championship final and Antrim were unable to prevent them going one step further this time around. "In the first half we didn't perform at all. We went in, and we basically went through them because it just seemed like they hadn't woken up," said Kelly. "Second half, they came out, they put a bit of heart and pride into the jersey. If we had scored that penalty, maybe it would have turned around. "But again, we were putting on 16 and 17-year-olds as our subs. That just shows the youth that we have. "Ciara Brown killed herself going up and down that pitch. We stepped in six months ago to transition and progress and to get here was a bonus so we'll take the pain and hurt away and hopefully get back next year. "Wicklow were in the same boat, they'd come down and were expecting to go straight up. And Fermanagh hit them, so they were righting their wrongs. Hopefully we'll do the same." MOULDING THE YOUTH Antrim manager Emma Kelly looks to the future But there are plenty of reasons for optimism, Antrim are a young side with the potential to make a mark again in next year's Junior championship. Thirteen of the squad that travelled to Croke Park this September were 20 or younger, while the work going on in the underage ranks in recent years is finally reaping rewards. "SECOND HALF, THEY CAME OUT, THEY PUT A BIT OF HEART AND PRIDE INTO THE JERSEY. IF WE HAD SCORED THAT PENALTY, MAYBE IT WOULD HAVE TURNED AROUND." Bottom From Left: 1 Antrim manager Emma Kelly during the TG4 All-Ireland Ladies Junior Football Championship Final. 2 Ciara Brown, Antrim. 3 Antrim captain Aislinn McFarland. 4 Laurie Ahern, Wicklow in action against Ciara Brown, Antrim. "There are U14, U16 and minor county squads and the club scene is growing a lot too. It's just buzzing," said Kelly. "It's not often that everybody in Antrim is behind the Ladies footballers. It's something we can be proud of. We have actually done that for the county. The clubs have been sending messages, they have been coming to our training sessions and it's fantastic to see. "If we have inspired a couple of them girls to want to play county or not to give up... from 16 on there is a drop-out. If we can keep some of them playing and say to them you can be the next Ciara Brown, she was water girl the last time we were here and she was amazing out there.