Glenullin into first ever All Ireland final

All Ireland Intermediate Football Semi Final

Glenullin 5-8, Strokestown (Roscommon) 2-8

THE Derry and Ulster champions hit four second half goals to sink Strokestown on Saturday afternoon in Ballyshannon.
Once Glenullin got the ball past midfield they ripped open the opposing defence.
Manager Michael O’Kane in a pre match interview asked his team to go for it from the start and they certainly did that with their first goal coming in the fourth minute by the ever dangerous Ryan McNicholl.
The Connacht champions packed their defence but Glenullin with their sharp inter passing game were able to prise them open.
Strokestown’s main attacking threat was the long ball into a dangerous full forward line that was given little space by the tight marking Glenullin defence.
Strokestown came into the game with a scoring average of 2-16 per game but Glenullin reduced that by eight points.
It was also their impact from the bench, with a combined 2-3 from their second-half substitutes pushing them over the line where McGann and McGinley were dangerous but, in general, the Glenullin defence handled them well.
In came teenage subs Willie John Bradley and Joe McNicholl to bang in brilliant goals. Feargal Close pointed with his first touch while the vastly experienced Dermot O’Kane joined his brothers Niall and John to send over two points one from a free.
Strokestown were without Seán Mullooly who was out of the country on his travels, while Glenullin were without the injured Donal O’Kane who was replaced by Eoin Bradley who hit a brace of points.
Ryan McNicholl’s first goal got Glenullin off the best possible start.
Eoin Bradley followed with a point as the Derry side set the tone but a Diarmuid McGann goal in the eighth minute was the Strokstown response with the sides level at half-time.
Half forward Finn had the teams level. The ground conditions were tricky with players on either side losing their footing at times.
Glenullin were much more fluent in attack with their movements opening up the opposing defence enough for Cillian and Eoin Bradley to make the score 1-3 to 1-1 11 minutes from half time.
Strokestown’s second point came from half back Ciaran Regan.
Strokestown were having their moments as McGinley levelled after missing a goal chance. A point from Neil McNicholl and a fisted effort from Darragh McGann at the other end saw the teams level 1-4 each at the interval.
Fearghal Close had the ball over the bar early in the second half before Ryan McNicholl, who was terrorising the Strokestown back line, hit his second goal in a rampant third quarter.
The lead was soon out to seven when a high ball from Ryan McNicholl was finished to the net by big midfielder Traglagh Bradley making the score 3-5 to 1-4.
Strokestown - with substitute Thomas Corcoran making an impression at midfield - got themselves back into contention with a Shane McGinley goal in the 42nd minute.
Prior to that Ryan McNicholl had pointed and Glenullin still looked comfortable even though Strokestown were having their chances.
Their high ball game was being controlled by the Glenullin defence.
At the mid point of the half the Roscommon men had their best spell of the game.
A Shane McGinley goal followed by points from McGann and centre half Neary cut the Glenullin lead to two with 14 minutes remaining.
Then came Glenullin’s introduction to the final, with seven minutes left Neil McNicholl’s perfect pass found teenage sub Willie John Bradley and he gave keeper Curley no chance with a fierce shot to the net.
Sub Thomas Corcoran got the last score for Strokestown but Glenullin were not finished yet.
Another sub - Dermot O’Kane - pointed a free and then sent one over from play.
At the other end Niall O’Kane made a smart save from Neary.
With victory more or less wrapped up another teenage sub, Joe McNicholl, hit a brilliant goal in added time to make it the best day in 100 years for Glenullin.
It was a great team display by the winners but special mention must go to Niall O’Kane, Eunan O’Kane, John O’Kane, Cathal Hasson, Ryan McNicholl and the manager for his timely use of the subs.

Scorers for Glenullin: Ryan McNicholl 2-1, Joe McNicholl, Traglagh Bradley, Willie John Bradley 1-0 each, Eoin Bradley, Dermot O’Kane (1f) 0-2 each, Feargal Close, Neil McNicholl and Cillian Bradley 0-1 each.

Scorers for Strokestown: D McGann 1-3 (1f), S McGinley 1-1 (1 45), D Neary, C Regan, K Finn and C Corcoran 0-1 each.

Glenullin: Niall O'Kane; Diamuid McNicholl, Daniel O’Kane, Eunan O’Kane; John O’Kane, Conor Rafferty, Eunan Boylan; Traglagh Bradley, Neil McNicholl; Cathal Hasson, Chrissy Dempsey, Cillian Bradley; Conrad Mullan, Eoin Bradley, Ryan McNicholl.

Subs: Feargal Close for C Mullan (HT), WillieJohn Bradley for Boylan (51), Joe McNicholl for Dempsey (51), Dermot O’Kane for E Bradley (56).

Strokestown: N Curley; D Casey, D Owens, T Gibbons; C Regan, D Neary, C Compton; F Cusack, C Neary; M Kavanagh, K Finn, S Tighe, D McGann, K Murphy, S McGinley.

Subs: C Lavin for Finn (35), T Corcoran for Cusack (37), E Moran for Kavanagh (41), C Corcoran for Murphy (45), K Finn for Tighe (60).

Referee: Barry Judge of Sligo was excellent.