Glenullin need to be at their best to get past Moneyglass

Ulster Intermediate Football Championship, Preliminary Round

Glenullin v Moneyglass (Antrim) at Owenbeg, 3-45pm Saturday

GLENULLIN won their third intermediate title in the last four years with a narrow win over Foreglen.
They will be aiming for the Ulster title but a strong Moneyglass team will test them in the preliminary round with the winners going into the quarter final with an away game against Armagh winners Sarsfields of Lurgan.
Two years ago Glenullin beat the then Antrim champions Glenravel by a wide margin but they will be wary of this emerging Moneyglass team who beat Sarsfields of Belfast easily in the county final by 0-14 to 0-8.
In that relatively low scoring game full forward Colm Duffin was the Moneyglass star, hitting six points
The other major scorer was Aidan McErlain with four.
Genullin came through a strong Derry championship at this level beating a good Foreglen team in the decider by three points.
In the quarter final Michael O’Kane’s charges scored a big win over Ballymaguign who now drop to the junior ranks.
In the semi final they were pushed all the way by Greenlough and similar in the final by Foreglen.
Glenullin won the county senior title 18 years ago but they still have some of these players producing the goods.
Eunan O’Kane, John O’Kane, Eoin Bradley and Traglach Bradley are still vital to their team.
This experience - allied to the power of Neil McNicholl and Traglach Bradley at midfield and the speed of young players like Ryan McNicholl, Willie John Bradley, Conrad Mullan and Joe McNicholl - leaves them with a nice balance.
In between they have consistent performers in Conor Rafferty, Cathal Hasson and Donal O’Kane.
Moneyglass has always been a strong force in football. They are based in north west Antrim, quite close to Toome.
They are a strong force in ladies football and are a vibrant club at all levels.
Remarkably, they, like Glenullin, won the title in their centenary year and they will have their sights set further ahead.
Home advantage and their well balanced team will make Glenullin slight favourites but the Mitchel’s will not be taking anything for granted.