Antrim footballers didn’t manage to wrest the Anglo Celt trophy away from the All Ireland champions.

But manager Liam Bradley had every reason to be proud of his squad of players for even in defeat they competed very well and their supporters brought a much needed dash of colour to Ulster final day.

And in fairness even when it was clear the game was beyond them they cheered and encouraged them at every opportunity.

Bradley was typically upbeat at the finish and he had every reason to be, warning that this was only a beginning not an end in itself.

“I know there are teams out there who will be wanting to get us in the qualifiers, but I can tell you now we’ll be ready for them.

“I’m proud of everyone of my players. I couldn’t have asked for and we’re all united in our determination to be still in the championship at the end of July.

“We’re only human in feeling bitterly disappointed. If you had told me this morning going up to Clone on the bus that we would have scored 15 points I reckoned we would have been coming home to Belfast with the Anglo Trophy.

“But the goal we conceded in the first half was a real killer blow. We started well enough and actually went a point up and might have had one or two more before Tyrone scored, but they clawed their way back and got the all important goal.

“Even at half time there was only six points between us, no more than two kicks of he ball, but we needed to start well in the second half. Two crucial decisions though went against us at that stage, one in particular when Tony Scullion was harshly penalised for over carrying.

“I’m not nit-picking for overall the referee had a good game, but when you are under dogs you need things like that to work in your favour.

“The great thing about this squad is that they are a very level headed bunch and I'll have no bother lifting them. This team in my estimation deserves to get playing in Croke Park and I’ve no doubt they will.

“Whoever meets us will know they were in a game. We wee still going strong at the finish and that augurs well. Two late chances that went over the bar might on another day have been goals, but that’s the way the cookie crumbles.

“Who knows a goal then might have brought us back.”

Michael McCann, one of many Antrim heroes, summed up the dressing room mood.

“We’re all gutted,down but not out, but take it from me we gave it our best shot and now it’s all systems for the qualifiers.”