By Daire Walsh

After previously spending a year away from the inter-county game to focus on being a dual club player, Bronagh Devlin is enjoying a new lease of life as the captain of the Antrim football team in 2025.

When they were coming through the underage ranks in the Saffron County, both Devlin and her twin sister Aine regularly lined out for Antrim in both ladies football and camogie. While a decision was eventually made to concentrate on the big ball code at an elite level, Devlin continued to represent Tír Na NÓg Randalstown in camogie as well as her LGFA club, St Ergnat’s, Moneyglass.

Combining her commitments to both of these sides with the life of an inter-county footballer wasn’t always easy, but Devlin nevertheless jumped at the opportunity to get back involved with Antrim for 2025. Selected by the new joint-management team of Michael Devlin (no relation) and Chris Scullion as the skipper of the side, she has played a huge role in helping the Saffrons to finish at the summit of the Lidl National Football League Division 4 table with seven straight wins.

“I didn’t play last year. I took a step back to focus on playing club. It’s kind of hard to juggle a bit of everything, but I’m more than happy to be back on the panel this year. It was a bit strange last year not playing games in January when you’re starting the league. It’s nice to get back out this year and be playing that time of year,” Devlin acknowledged. But she said she was surprised to be named captain.

“I won’t lie, it was a massive shock to me whenever it was announced. There are a few new girls in the panel this year, but there are other ones there that I have played with for years.

“We all kind of know each other and stuff like that. It’s no different than just being a player on the panel. Everybody is a different leader in their own way on the team. It’s much the same as everybody else with us this year.”

When Devlin first joined the Antrim senior panel as a teenager back in 2016, she counted Emma Kelly as one of her team-mates. The St Paul’s stalwart took over as Saffrons boss five years later and went on to enjoy a successful stint at the helm of the side.

In addition to guiding Antrim to Ulster titles in the intermediate and junior grades, Kelly was also in charge for their triumph in the 2022 edition of the TG4 All-Ireland junior football championship before steering the ship for a successful journey through Division 4 of the Lidl NFL a year later.

She ultimately stepped down last August following a difficult season that saw the Saffrons suffering relegation from both the All-Ireland intermediate championship and NFL Division 3. The aforementioned duo of Michael Devlin and Chris Scullion were ultimately drafted in as her replacement two months later and Bronagh has been impressed with the way they have built on the foundations that were laid by Kelly during her four-year tenure.

“They have a great CV behind them and they definitely have made us their whole life this year. It’s all they ever talk about and all they ever want to do. They definitely took it in their stride and they’re doing very, very well. The passion is hanging out of them!

“They’re managing us very well and keeping up with us. There’s a few times they’re ready to not listen to us, but they’re definitely doing great this year. Along with all the background staff that they’ve brought in.”

Although their win over Derry in Owenbeg on March 9 saw them finishing three points clear of Fermanagh at the top of the fourth-tier table, there is still some work to be done by Devlin and her Antrim colleagues in their bid to secure an automatic return to Division 3 for 2026.

Tomorrow afternoon sees the Saffrons travelling to O’Raghallaigh Park in Kingscourt, Co. Cavan to face last year’s TG4 All-Ireland intermediate football champions Leitrim in a tantalising Division 4 semi-final.

The winners of this game – which will be the second meeting of the two sides in this year’s league – are guaranteed to secure promotion out of the division along with the victors of the second semi-final between Fermanagh and Sligo.

“With this weekend especially, if you win you’re guaranteed promotion. Which obviously makes this game probably that tiny bit more like a mental game. I think we’ll just treat it as every other game, you take it as it comes.

“We’re looking forward to it and I think we’ll just do what we have been doing this year. There is no point in changing anything now if it has been working for us.”

Whereas Bronagh finds herself in a familiar attacking position this year – she lined out at right corner-forward when Antrim won the TG4 All-Ireland junior football championship three years ago in a final replay against Fermanagh – her sister Aine has taken on a new role for the Saffrons this year.

Previously deployed as an outfield player at all levels of football, last year saw Aine Devlin being used as a goalkeeper by her club St Ergnat’s, Moneyglass. She has also been selected between the sticks for Antrim thus far in 2025 and although it is a dramatic change for her twin sibling, Bronagh believes Aine has the necessary attributes to become a top class inter-county netminder.

“She is taking it in her stride, to be honest. It was a bit of a shock to everybody how good she is at it. Her ability at reading the game is next to none. She can pick out a kick pass from a kick out to anybody. It’s definitely a bit of a game changer with her there. I’m happy to see it,” Devlin added.

“She was naturally an outfielder until last year, but she was struggling with a bit of an injury last year. She’s the kind of player you need on the pitch no matter what. I think it was the best thing to happen to our team and for her even, confidence wise and all too. She’s doing very, very well.”

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