Friendships will be paused tomorrow afternoon at Cherryvale in South Belfast when county colleagues go head-to-head as Bredagh host Moneyglass in the Ulster Club Ladies SFC quarter-final.
Back in August, Bredagh star Aislinn McFarland was Antrim’s full-back as they defeated Fermanagh to clinch the All-Ireland Junior title at the Athletic Grounds after a replay.
Moneyglass attacker Cathey Carey captained the Saffrons this season and scored 2-1 in the replay while goalkeeper Anna McCann, defenders Niamh McIntosh and Sarah O’Neill and forwards Maria O’Neill, Bronagh Devlin and Orlaith Prenter all hail from the St Ergnat’s club.
Moneyglass stopped St Paul’s from claiming a famous 10-in-a-row in Antrim last season, but they proved it was no fulke by retaining their crown this year.
McFarland has plenty of respect for Moneyglass and believes their large county contingent makes them dangerous opponents despite Bredagh winning last year’s meeting between the sides by 10 points.
“In terms of having a successful year with the county, it couldn’t have gone any better. I won an Ulster and All-Ireland title with so many of the girls from Moneyglass.” said McFarland, who could find herself marking her county captain on Sunday.
“When we played Moneyglass last year in Ulster, not many of them were playing county. It is awkward and uncomfortable, but we are there to play football at the end of the day.
“Moneyglass have had an unbelievable year, winning titles from U14 right the way up to senior. We don’t doubt that it is going to be tough. St Paul’s are still a top class side so what Moneyglass have done hasn’t gone unnoticed.
“I’ve played with them and I’ve played against them. It is just going to come down to whoever performs on the day.
"It is certainly going to be interesting and, to be honest, I just want to go out and get it done at this point as the nerves are building!”
The Down champions lost out to perennial Ulster winners Donaghmoyne 2-10 to 1-6 in last year’s replayed provincial decider in Crossmaglen, but Bredagh had ample chances to defeat the Monaghan side in the first game in Carrickmore.
Success at county level hasn’t eased the disappointment of seeing an Ulster title slip away with her club, but McFarland is grateful that Bredagh have returned for another crack at provincial glory.
“In all the time I’ve been playing football, it is the one game that is really gutting to look back on - I’m still gutted about it,” added McFarland.
“It is one of those games – having the chance to win an Ulster Championship doesn’t come around that often and it was there for the taking. At the end of the day, the girls have regrouped and that drive is still there.
“We know it is our mistake that we didn’t get over the line and it's up to us to fix it. We have that opportunity now, thankfully, and that drive and hunger is definitely still there.”
Bredagh will challenge for Ulster honours on two fronts this winter with their second team taking on Derrygonnelly of Fermanagh in the Intermediate Championship.
“People might think we take it for granted or it doesn’t mean as much because we’ve won it before,” said the Antrim defender.
“Every single one is special. Doing it in consecutive years is immense as it shows the commitment of the girls.
“That feeds down to the Intermediate side as well and they’ve done brilliantly this year. To go from Junior to Intermediate is pretty much unheard of and it just speaks to the calibre of players that are about and the depth of Bredagh in general.”
Defending Ulster champions Donaghmoyne have home advantage against newly-crowned Armagh winners Clann Éireann in Sunday’s quarter-final.
The other fixtures sees Tyrone winner St Macartan’s host Kinawley of Fermanagh while Termon (Donegal) are at home to Lurgan (Cavan) with all games starting at 2pm.
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