Good luck to Glenullin!

All Ireland Intermediate Club Football Championship Final

Glenullin v An Gaeltacht (Kerry) in Croke Park, Sunday 3-30pm

WHEN Ballinderry beat Glenullin comfortably in the 2024 Derry Intermediate championship few would have thought that Glenullin would be contesting the 2025 All Ireland final.
Ballinderry, of course, went on to reach the All Ireland final but were denied the title due to the award of a penalty in the last minute to Crossmolina of Mayo. It actually should have been a free out to the Derry side.
The only Derry team to win the All Ireland title at this level has been Steelstown who beat a top Kerry side, Na Gael, in the semi final by seven points. In the final they beat Meath champions Trim with the greatest of ease.
Michael O’Kane took over the Glenullin reins from his cousin Paddy Bradley who had taken the Mitchell’s to back to back Intermediate titles in 2022 and 2023. In Ulster they were unfortunate to meet very strong opposition.
There were a few Glenullin players thought to have their best days behind them but O’Kane kept faith in them and the results have been top notch.
He then added a trio of youthful players in Conrad Mullan, Joe McNicholl and Willie John Bradley who have blended in with the more experienced men to form the perfect mix.
Playing in the senior league added necessary experience and the results were decent but O’Kane was quick to point out that quite a few of the teams they faced were without their county players
Now his players are living the dream of playing in Croke Park when they take on An Gaeltacht from the Irish speaking area of Kerry on the Dingle Peninsula.
The Kerry side were extremely fortunate to be still there as it took a debatable last minute two point free by Enna O’Conchuir to get past Sallins of Kildare in the other semi final to record a 0-18 to 1-14 victory.
Glenullin will face a very tough task against a team that beat Fossa the club of David and Paudie Clifford in the county final winning by 0-19 to 1-11.
One of their midfielders is a former Cork player Aidan Breathnach (Walsh). Despite his 35 years he is still a key man on the team. They reached the final without four starters from their Munster final victory but Kerry All Star half back Brian O Beaglaoich will most likely start on Sunday at Croke Park where he won an All Ireland medal in Kerry’s big victory over Donegal last July.
Glenullin have been improving with every game as they went along but Michael O’Kane will be warning them not to let the occasion get the better of them in the vast CrokePark stadium.

STRONG

Intermediate football in Kerry is strong for the simple reason is that only eight clubs play in the senior championship and 16 in the intermediate. Quite a few of the intermediate teams would not be out of their depth in the senior grade.
Goals have been the key to Glenullin’s success and in their five games to date they have hit 11. Their subs bench has also been a big factor and the manager has used them at the right time in every game.
When they edged past Foreglen in the Derry final a wonderful two point free by sub Eoin Bradley secured victory. Against Strokestown four subs - Fearghal Close, Joe McNicholl, Willis John Bradley and Dermot O’Kane - contributed 2-3 between them with teenagers McNicholl and Bradley hitting quite spectacular goals.
Tall full forward Donal O’Kane missed the semi final with injury but it is not clear if he will be able to start on Sunday. Eoin Bradley replaced him and scored two early points in that game. An Gaeltacht seem to have more injuries than the Derry and champions.
If Glenullin’s tall midfield men Traglack Bradley and Neil McNicholl can get the breaks at midfield they have the firepower in attack to briNg the club their first All Ireland title in their one hundredth year.
Prior to the Glenullin game the junior final will take place between Clogher of Tyrone and Ballymacelligot of Kerry.
Both games will be shown live on TG4.