Mellon praises 'exciting blend' as Greenlough eye senior return
Plunketts boss credits crucial goal-line interventions and young players stepping up in high-stakes moments
St Oliver Plunkett’s Greenlough survived a late scare to book their place in the Premier Electrics Derry Intermediate Football Championship final, edging out Coleraine’s Eoghan Rua 0-16 to 1-11 at Find Insurance Owenbeg last Saturday.
They will now face St Martins of Desertmartin in the decider at Find Insurance Celtic Park next weekend, where they will hope to claim their fifth Intermediate crown, having last lifted the Sheridan, Bateson and Lee Cup in 2020.
However, that triumph came during the first year of the Covid-19 pandemic, when the Derry County Board suspended all promotions and relegations across its leagues and championships, meaning Greenlough remained in the second tier despite winning the title.
Last time out against Eoghan Rua, Plunketts were pushed to the limit, with Barry McGoldrick striking the post, almost snatching a late victory for the Coleraine men deep into injury time, as Greenlough held on through a frantic late fightback from the Coleraine men.
Manager Paul Mellon was full of praise for his charges, although relief was one of the overriding emotions at the final whistle.
“We’re delighted, but we’re relieved as well. We came through a huge battle, which we expected. Eoghan Rua are a serious team and have great pedigree. They have boys with two senior championships, and it was always going to be tough. They really brought us into the trenches.
“We certainly got a fright at the end. The ball came off the post, but the other element of it is that there were boys there who made serious runs back to get challenges in at the right time, and that would be what we are most pleased with.
“We have young lads in their first or second year of senior football who made huge plays in that game and big interventions at crucial stages, so you can’t not be pleased with that.”
The Moy native is in his first year in charge of the Lough, with a return to senior football for the first time since 2016 now within touching distance. For Mellon, Sunday’s decider could mark the beginning of an exciting new chapter for the club, both on and off the field, with plans to develop their facilities complementing an encouraging blend of youth and experience within the squad.
“We have a really good crop of youth that has been very exciting for the club. They’ve played in the senior championship before, and some of those older boys have that experience, so there’s a great blend of exciting young lads with the older heads in their thirties who have been there and done the hard yards.
“The older lads are trying to help those young boys along on their journey. But at the same time, the young lads have re-energised those lads. We’re lucky in Greenlough with the profile that we have. You’ve got that excitement of youth alongside boys who have been there before.”
However, Mellon is under no illusions about the challenge awaiting his side in the shape of a formidable Desertmartin outfit. The St Martin’s men have swept aside opposition on their way to their first Derry Intermediate final since 2003, most recently producing a dominant 3-12 to 0-12 victory over Craigbane.
Derry sharpshooter Lachlan Murray was in scintilating form last time out as St Martin's eased past Craigbane on a 3-12 to 0-12 victory, with the intercounty star kicking 1-4 from play.
“Desertmartin will be a massive challenge. Unlike ourselves, they’ve cruised to the final and have put up big scores in most games that they have played. They look very controlled in what they are doing. We’re just so delighted to be there now.
“Similar to ourselves, they have a lot of exciting young players. They’re a formidable opponent, and we’re not surprised to see them there. It’ll take a mammoth effort to get over the line. We’re pleased to focus on ourselves and our own hard work, and that’s all we can do.
“It has all the makings of a cracker, and it’ll be a great occasion. It’s the first time in a long time that there have been four South Derry teams in the finals. When you get over the final, you’ve earned the right to look forward to the occasion, and that’s what we’re going to do.”