"First and foremost it’s all about staying in division one but we want to get points on the board early and push for the top six.” – Eóin McNicholl

By Brendan McTaggart

AFTER a year hiatus in division two, ‘The Glen’ are back in the top flight of Derry football.  Following a disappointing 2015 campaign, a change of manager and a change of fortunes followed in 2016.

Liam ‘Baker’ Bradley returned to guide his home club to an unbeaten campaign and promotion at the first time of asking and as goalkeeper Eóin McNicholl explained, last year was an examination in their powers of recovery.

“It put a dent in the pride of the players and the club to be honest but to get promotion at the first time of asking showed great character from the squad and hopefully we’ll build on that this year.”

An unbeaten campaign was a superb fete for Glenullin and McNicholl hopes his side will build on the confidence they have developed from last year: “We’ll take great confidence in last year’s campaign.  To come through a season unbeaten in a league that is notoriously difficult is a huge lift for the squad.

“Travelling to the likes of Ballymaguigan and Doire Trasna where you know you weren’t going to get things all your own way.  It’s not that long ago we were playing Castledawson in division one and those games were always tense and tight.  We would never have described them as handy matches and last year we were playing them in division two.”

Although promotion was always their primary goal, McNicholl admitted that they never imagined they would go undefeated: “We didn’t set out at the start of the year with any intentions or aspirations to go unbeaten.  I think if you do that you tend to heap more unnecessary pressure onto yourselves.  We got off to a good start and got a bit of momentum going.”

This year marks the 10^th Anniversary since Glenullin’s third Derry championship win and although their goals are firmly set elsewhere, they have lofty ambitions for the 2017 league campaign: “First and foremost it’s all about staying in division one but we want to get points on the board early and push for the top six.

“You play football to win and be successful.  We’ll go out with the intentions of winning every game and I think with the quality, youth and experience we have at our disposal we have the capabilities to push for a top six finish.”  McNicholl continued: “We have boys in our squad that have inter-county experience, myself and the two Bradley’s and Gerard O’Kane along with a lot of other lads who have played for the county at underage.  With the younger lads like Conor Rafferty and Daniel O’Kane along with Chris Dempsey making more of an impact, a top six finish is realistically achievable.”

THE TWO AMIGOS

With Eoin Bradley plying his trade with Coleraine in the Irish League and an Irish Cup Final next month and Paddy now in charge at Newbridge, speculation has been rife about the Bradley brothers’ future.

McNicholl hasn’t been told any different and he expects to see them in a Glenullin shirt in 2017: “I’m not too sure on what the situation is to be honest.  A lot of people are presuming that because he’s (Paddy) involved with Newbridge that he’s retired but we’ve been told no different.  We’re hopeful that he’ll be playing some role in the campaign.

“I’d imagine that we’ll be using him sparingly, something similar to how Slaughtneil and Patsy (Bradley) would operate.  Give him game time but not overdo things.  With someone like Paddy you know what he brings so it’s up to us to use that to the best of our abilities.”

McNicholl added that his side have learned from past mistakes and are a stronger team as a result when he concluded: “We’ll be taking nothing for granted.  We’ll be fighting for every point and hopefully we’ll have learned our lessons from two years ago.”

2015 was a chastening experience for Glenullin.  Winning can become a habit and as they found out to their own detriment, so too can losing.  Last year will have went some way in rebuilding their confidence and belief but division one football, as well they know, will be a much tougher prospect.

Despite not declaring his retirement, Paddy Bradley’s involvement with Newbridge and Skinner’s soccer career may limit their league football for Glenullin.  That will leave a huge gap for someone to fill.

Niall O’Kane’s return from Australia is a plus, with the kicking exploits of his brother Dermot.  There is also the two Chrissy Dempseys.  Newcomers Daniel O’Kane and Conor Rafferty have the potential, but aren’t the finished article just yet.

There is no doubting the experience and potential in the Glenullin squad and that ‘potential’ will be another year wiser after last year’s winning campaign.  Can they achieve the lofty ambitions of a top six spot as predicted by McNicholl?  That remains to be seen.  It may be just out of reach but if the lessons have been learned from their relegation then they should stave off relegation and remain in division one.

Management team – Liam Bradley, Declan Mullan, Paul McGowan and Anthony McNeill.

Joint captains – Neil McNicholl Traglach Bradley.

Squad List -  Eoin McNicholl Cathal Óg Mullan Gerard O’Kane John O’Kane Dermot  O’Kane Niall O’Kane Mark O’Kane Eamon McNicholl Conor Rafferty Barry Mullan Daniel O’Kane Brian Mullan Chrissy Dempsey Eoin Bradley  Christopher Dempsey Pearse McNicholl Patrick Bradley Neil McNicholl Cathal Kearney James  Holmes Barry Niblock Caolan McNeill Traglach Bradley Eunan O’Kane Donal McNicholl Jack McIlvar Oisin McGowan Eamon Bradley Ben McGinley Cathal Hasson Aidan McNicholl Fearghal Close Enda Mullan.

Fixtures -
R1 – Ballinderry (A), R2 – Coleraine (H), R3 – Bellaghy (A), R4 – Claudy (H), R5 –  Ballinascreen (A), R6 – Loup (H), R7 – Magherafelt (A), R8 – Banagher (A), R9 – Glen (H), R10 – Slaughtneil (H), R11 – Lavey (A), R12 – Swatragh (H), R13 – Dungiven (A), R14 – Kilrea (H), R15 – Greenlough (A).

Key Player – Gerard O’Kane

With the full involvement of the Bradley brothers uncertain, former minor winning captain O’Kane will have a huge part to play in his first season away from the county scene.

One to Watch – Neil McNicholl

Following his injury woes and the hard graft to get back into action, McNicholl will be one that ‘Baker’ will be looking a big 2017 from.

Chances – Safety first

After bouncing back into the top flight, they should stay clear of the relegation zone with some ease.  With a resurgence of underage in the club, they are back to stay.

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