Dowds proud of Antrim 'resilience' in title win
· Yahoo Sports
Antrim manager Elaine Dowds hailed the "resilience" of her players, who rebounded from some turbulent times to book a return to camogie's senior grade for 2027 with victory over Laois in Sunday's All-Ireland Intermediate final.
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Dowds was ousted as team manager after the 2023 season when Antrim reached a senior quarter-final, which led to disquiet in the camp and resulted in Brian Kearney and Mark McFadden stepping down prior to the start of the 2024 league.
Carl McCormick and Martin Coulter stepped in but the Saffrons would suffer Championship relegation and while they recovered last term to win promotion to Division 1A of the league, they were pipped at the semi-final stage of the Intermediate Championship by Offaly.
With Dowds back at the helm, Antrim finished the job this time around as they pulled clear in the second half with the Dunloy native delighted her players got their reward for staying the course.
"It's been a long time coming," Dowds told RTE Sport.
"There's been turmoil in Antrim, turbulent times, and these girls have stood through it all. Thank God for Carl and Martin coming in last year and a wee bit before for the rebuilding.
"You could say Laois and their story as the underdogs deserved it, but I really believe that what these girls have been through over the last three or four years - I could not be happier, prouder or more delighted for them.
"They stuck at it, went down at one point and were beaten by 56 points by Wexford and had a terrible time. It maybe built the resilience to get out there and win today."
While Antrim were unable to retain their top-flight status in the league this season, they did score an away win against Cork and got to within two points of Galway who contested Sunday's senior final.
Dowds accepts the difference between league and championship is "two different animals" but feels there is plenty of room for improvement despite a 14-point win over Laois on Sunday.
"I don't think we opened up the way we could have and there is more in the tank and that's something we can try to carry into senior next year," she continued.
"Just because we competed well in [Division] 1A in the league this year, it's two different animals [compared to championship]. That's a message I will try to carry through."
'This is the start of something good' - McCormick
Roisin McCormick picked up the player of the match award on a day in which the Loughgiel star finished with 1-11 to her name.
A veteran of the 2021 success, McCormick was in agreement with Dowds that Antrim have the ability to kick on next year despite the greater challenges at camogie's top table.
"It's been a long two years trying to get back up into senior," McCormick told RTE Sport.
"We got relegated in 2024 in Limerick that day which was heartbreak to go back down to intermediate because we have the ability to be up in senior, so I'm delighted to get over the line today and back up to senior for next year.
"This is the start of something good. We had a brilliant league campaign in [Division] 1A and unfortunately got relegated, but put in great performances.
"We went down to Cork and beat Cork, were only beaten by Galway by three, so we have the ability and talent in the county, so it's time we started to showcase that."