Expect an old school shoot-out as Ballyhaise face Derry champs

Damien Donohoe

For the third year in a row Cavan's intermediate champions will play in the Ulster club semi-final as Ballyhaise take on Glenullin from Derry this Saturday.

In 2021 Butlersbridge faced Steelstown from Derry in the final four and were well beaten by the soon to be crown All-Ireland champions. Last year Castlerahan lost out to Corduff from Monaghan in a war of attrition in Crossmaglen.

In a very strange twist of fate Glenullin are coming into the Ulster intermediate club championship for the second year in a row. Because of a freeze on promotion to facilitate a restructuring of the championships in Derry, Glenullin have won back to back intermediate championships and will have the chance to do three in a row in 2024.

Glenullin is a small village about seven miles south of Coleraine in a valley between the villages of Garvagh, Swatragh and Dungiven. They played senior championship in Derry in 2019 but should have ended up playing junior championship in 2022 having lost their relegation play-off, only to be allowed to stay up because the junior teams didn’t wish to be promoted.

In stepped the third highest Ulster scorer in inter-county championship history and 2007 All-Star in Paddy Bradley to manage the team. After laying down the law and explaining what was needed the former Derry Under 20’s manager went about turning the club's fortunes around. Even after winning the championship in Derry last year Bradley felt the team didn’t get the respect they deserved within the Oakleaf county. After suffering a 19-point defeat at the hands of Galbally Pearses in the Ulster quarter-final last year, it was always going to be a vengeance mission in 2023.

Paddy’s younger brother Eoin Bradley at the age of 39 operates at full-forward and scored 1-7 in their win over Antrim’s Glenravel in the Ulster quarter-final two weeks ago. In that 3-13 to 0-7 victory Bradley’s side were always in control with centre forward Donal O’Kane (one of five O’Kanes on the team) scoring three points from open play.

Neil McNicholl in the middle of the field is a powerful mobile player with an eye for a goal and the ability to hit a long range point when needed. On the inside line Ryan McNicholl is a ball winner who has the skills to unlock a defence with his incisive passing.

The fitness of the Glenullin side is unquestionable as they had to go to extra-time in both the semi-final and final in Derry this year. In that final they faced Banagher who Mullahoran beat in the Ulster intermediate semi-final in 2018. With the game in injury-time and Glenullin down to 14 players they trailed by four points.

Eoin Bradley converted a free to give them one last chance from the resulting kick-out and pressing high on the Banagher restart they won possession and a free on the 45 meter line. In a very similar way to Naomh Conall, Bradley went short with the free before it was lobbed into the goal mouth for a scramble which resulted in a goal. In extra-time Bradley’s boys scored a goal and three points and held on at the death thanks to a goal line clearance from Eunan Boylan.

Pressure

Ballyhaise can expect to be put under pressure in possession of the ball all over the field as Glenullin like to press and hunt with their forwards. That high intensity tackling has led to difficulties as they finished normal time with 13 players on the field for their semi-final win over Drumsurn.

For Ballyhaise the return of Sean McCormack from suspension will give Damien Keaney more options while it would be expected that Kevin Tierney will also be available to line out from the start. The match ups are going to be crucial again with Neil and Ryan McNicholl, Donal O’Kane and Eoin Bradley all needing special attention, but Keaney & CO (Ciaran Owens) haven’t been found wanting in that area to date.

Ballyhaise on the other hand will give Paddy Bradley plenty to think about. The Cavan champions have amassed 7-82 in the championship to date with five players alone. Michael Brady is their top scorer with 37 points so far with his brother David adding 3-14 from open play. Padraig Moore has 2-15 to his name, while Kevin Tierney and Martin Conaty have 1-8 in part appearances so far.

From the middle back Brían O’Rourke, Evan Crowe and Eoin Clarke also regularly contribute to the score board. At the back Aodhagan Waters has been a rock with his blotting out of Donegal senior Johnny McGroddy instrumental in their win over Downings in the quarter-final of Ulster.

Glenullin have scored eight goals in their last three games this season but for them to keep that rate up they will have to get two or more goals past Gary O’Rourke who has only conceded four goals in the entire championship.

Given the scoring power on both sides and the fact that neither team has set up very defensively to date, this has the makings of an old school shot out. Conditions will be heavy given the time of year but there is less rainfall expected this week than last so the pitch in Omagh shouldn’t cause a huge problem to the spectacle.

In the final analysis, Ballyhaise are going to have to be very close to their best to get the win. Their performance in the county final, and especially their second half display against Downings, won’t be enough to get the better of a hungry, fit and well drilled Glenullin. The shot conversion rate will most definitely need to be at their first half levels from the Ulster quarter-final and the semi-final win over Killinkere to keep control of the contest but that is within their ability.