Patient approach key to Antrim’s dominating win says manager Emma Kelly

The value of patience was something Antrim manager Emma Kelly has been stressing to her players and it certainly paid off in style last Sunday as the Saffrons proved far too strong for Leitrim in the Lidl LGFA Division 4 Final.

The Antrim manager was delighted to see her team perform on the day: “To be honest, we’ve been struggling to get out of Division 4 year on year and it has always been our main target and I’m just delighted to get out of there. The girls put in immense work, the whole squad up to the 30 - they push each other on and I’m just so glad they turned up and performed today.”

And that is where patience with Kelly emphasising Antrim’s approach to keeping hold of the ball: “We’ve been preaching to them to be patient, be patient - if it is not on, keep it, bring it back round, recycle, get the run off the shoulder and break the lines and if it is not on, keep it until it is on.

Impressive Antrim crush Leitrim's League Final dreams

LEITRIM 2-6 ANTRIM 1-19

“The key thing in Gaelic and I keep saying to them is if the other team don’t have the ball, they can’t do any damage. It is constant. We work a lot on intensity and press in training so everybody is more comfortable on the ball when they are in that situation and I’m just glad that they’ve got this far and it is setting us up for the championship.”

Another key factor was how Kelly’s side restricted Leitrim's potent attack  to just 2-6, although the manager did admit to having a few worries when Ailbhe Clancy scored Leitrim’s second goal: “The couple of goals they got, I was kind of panicking but the girls settled themselves, stood up and went at it.

“We were trying to get our matchups right and with our half-forwards and midfielders, they’re very athletic so we tried to get them back to cover up any goals. We do have girls there who are very young but at the same time, they are mature enough to know when to give the ball, when to hold the ball and things like that. Overall, it was a good performance.”

Kelly  pointed to her team’s experience, a key factor in dominating the kickout battle: “I think that is where the level heads come up, you have the likes of Ciara Brown, McCann and Cathy obviously, they came back, Orla Corr and Ana Mulholland was immense today in the middle of the park, up and down like a yo-yo. 

Heartbreak for Leitrim as Antrim prove too strong in Lidl LGFA Division 4 Final - GALLERY

Bitter disappointment for Leitrim in the Lidl LGFA Division 4 Final in Parnell Park as Antrim stormed their way to a comprehensive 1-19 to 2-6 victory over the Green & Gold. Observer photographer Willie Donnellan was a busy man with his camera, see who you can spot cheering on Leitrim!

“The kick outs were important, we won them, we kept possession and were able to go at them so I think it was the wee bit maturity and experience over the last few years helped us. Before we would have broken down and collapsed so I’m glad to see that has kicked in and we’re bringing it on to the pitch.”

Antrim now take a break as Kelly fulfils a promise to her players: “I promised them I would give them the week off if we won so we’ll not see them until Tuesday week - I’m delighted for them. To be fair, they have put a lot of work in.”