THE Antrim ladies are bidding to reach an All-Ireland final this weekend, as they face Carlow. Manager Emma Kelly says that the attitude of her team has been exceptional and one of the reasons why she’s confident they will make a good account of themselves.

“This squad, we could ask them to run through a river and they would. It is mad this year. In years before you would have players who say they are not doing something.

“Some girls we actually have to tell them to stop. They will keep going, it is the way that they are.”

The Saffrons are playing Carlow in the semi-final.

“The girls know that the last time they played Carlow they were lucky to get it to extra-time but their fitness helped them in extra-time. We know we didn’t perform in normal time.

“There is a brilliant buzz and they are champing at the bit and ready to go. It is up to us to get the best 15 on the pitch. We have a lot of players who are very adaptable. We have brought in minor players partly to bulk up the squad, but I have said, ‘if they are good enough they will be going to be used.’

“So the competition is there and it is class to see the young girls competing.”

The management team are looking at the Carlow team that beat Limerick and the Carlow team that Antrim beat and there isn’t much difference bar one player. That leaves the Saffrons feeling confident.

“The match-ups were good that day. At the same time a lot of girls are performing better. Some players have slipped back and others have jumped over them. We are trying to get the match-ups right.”

There are doubts over the availability of Orla Corr and Aine Tubridy. Saoirse Tennyson will definitely not play. Anna McCann has only rejoined the team. Ellie Murphy is currently unavailable. Niamh McIntosh is out with broken fingers. They might use her if they need her.

Corr is the full-back but she went off after 10 minutes against Wicklow. Tubridy has had a hip issue and they will see if they can use her at all.