BREDAGH star Alan Davidson has paid tribute to Antrim co-manager Gearoid Adams but expressed his disappointment at not being able to fulfil a long-held ambition – to play for his native county Down.
The 27-year-old has been in stunning scoring form for Jody Gormley’s club side in Division 2 of the Down League for the past season and a half, but having been overlooked by the Mourne county, he has linked up with the Saffrons and could be in line to feature in their All-Ireland Senior Football qualifier with Limerick later this month.
Having been a goalscoring central midfielder for Irish Premiership soccer clubs Newry City, Glenavon and Ballymena United, the latter of whom he scored the winner for in the 2013 County Antrim Shield Final as well as hitting a double in the 2014 Irish Cup Semi-Final, Davidson quit the sport to concentrate on his GAA career and has been a massive hit with Belfast-based club Bredagh since early 2015.
While many expected the Warrenpoint man to have been given a trial for Down, the call didn’t come and he is delighted to have thrown his lot in with Antrim.
“I’ve only played 28 competitive matches since I was 13 years of age – that’s it. I gave myself the challenge last year – I wanted to play for Down. I did everything I though I could to at least get a call-up. I hoped for a call-up. That was my aim but when it never came and then Antrim came calling, I was delighted,” Davidson said.
“Whenever I started, I wanted to play for Down. I didn’t even contemplate Antrim. I didn’t even know it was a possibility I could play for Antrim but whenever you do so well in the league and you don’t get a trial [for Down], then I was very happy to be given the chance by Gearoid to possibly go and play for Antrim.
