ANTRIM captain Cathy Carey believes the momentum the new Ulster intermediate champions have built up puts them in a good place ahead of their All-Ireland campaign opener against Westmeath in Mullingar on Sunday.
It has been an unforgettable past nine months for Saffrons leader, who has lifted the 2022 All-Ireland junior championship, the 2023 NFL Division Four title and, just two weeks ago, the Ulster intermediate crown, while also skippering Antrim to the 2022 Ulster junior title and her club Moneyglass to the senior county championship.
“It’s hard to stop a team with a bit of momentum. Trainings are good, everyone is enjoying playing at the minute,” she said.
“I think we could have recovered from the [Ulster] final either way but a win gives you a push on and a wee bit of belief.”
Antrim beat Tyrone 2-18 to 1-13 in the provincial final to clinch a first ever title at that level and they will certainly have caught the attention of the other intermediate teams in the country as one to watch.
With just three teams in their group, Longford being the other, the Saffrons will certainly fancy their chances of reaching the knockout stages.
It is for these opportunities that Carey continued to pull on the county jersey even through the toughest of times and when she does hang up the boots, she will certainly have played her part in pushing forward ladies’ football in the county.
“During some of the worst days, I’d be lying if I said I thought Antrim could push on. But that is the reason you kept playing, to try and get to where we are now,” she said.
“People always ask you for your reason why you keep playing and that was probably the main one – to really drive the county and to leave the county in a better place than what you got it in.
“I think this Ulster title confirms that, that we can mix it with the best in Ulster and hopefully the best in Ireland pushing on.
“Tyrone and Monaghan were the teams when I was growing up that were setting the standard.
“They were two massive teams, and they were flying the flag for Ulster so to go out and beat two teams that were considered a higher calibre than us just sets the bar higher for us.”
TG4 ALL-IRELAND LADIES' IFC
ROUND ONE
Sunday, June 11 (2pm unless stated)
Group One Leitrim v Kildare (Avant Money Páirc Seán Mac Diarmada)
Group Two Offaly v Clare (Clara, 12pm); Tyrone v Wicklow (Dunleer)
Group Three Roscommon v Wexford (Dr Hyde Park)
Group Four Westmeath v Antrim (St Loman’s, Mullingar)
