Glenelly want to grab glory in Junior Championship opener

GLENELLY manager Diarmuid McNulty believes at least eight teams are in with a chance of winning the Pat Darcy Cup as his side get set to meet Augher in the preliminary round of the Tyrone Junior Championship this Saturday afternoon.

That long journey to a potential title starts this weekend with the St Joseph’s keen to be in the shake-up.

Glenelly rounded off their preparations with a loss against neighbours Urney last Sunday, when conceding an injury time goal. Although the manner of the defeat hurt, McNulty felt it was a good opportunity to try things out ahead of the Augher game.

“ We have plenty of positives on that front but the way it ended will sting for a while, we have to shake that off this week.

“ I feel there are six, seven or even eight teams that could win the (Junior) title. It has been a very competitive league campaign. Some teams have been exceptional and I felt we could still have gotten ourselves a play-off spot mathematically at least.

“ The Urney loss robbed us of that. The focus now is the Championship and it’s that old managers adage,one game at a time for us,” he quipped.

This is a youthful Glenelly side with limited Championship experience. Many of the squad have been tied up with the Reserves and Minors, forcing McNulty to dig deep into his resources.

“ Our reserves were involved up until last week with Cookstown pipping us and we had boys out playing with three different sides so we haven’t been able to have many proper training sessions over the past month. We’re sort of just trying to manage a load and keep everyone ticking over. It’s hard to juggle but the proof of the pudding will be next Saturday.”

Eoghan McConnell, goalkeeper Conor Mc Aneney, Lorcan McCullagh, Oscar O’Neill and Garrett O’Neill have impressed this season. McNulty feels their league standing at the end up was probably a fair reflection on the way their campaign went as they missed out on the play-offs.

“We made those play-offs last season so missing out at the weekend on reflection is disappointing but in reality we had more draws this year. We tried things and jigged the squad about so it’s about right where we finished up.

“There’s a lot of young bodies for sure and the older boys are trying to teach them too but the young legs are hard to beat. They are learning and we are learning. They will make mistakes but they all have that enthusiasm that gets them to get up and go again. We just hope everyone is available and we can pick things up for what will be an intense outing.”

The Gortin man is well aware of the challenge against an Augher side which won the league meeting by six points.

“Augher have some quality players and again they have been up and down the divisions. There’s experience in that group. I know last year we beat them with a last second goal and they beat us by two goals this year. Ahead of this one I expect nothing less than a good open game on Saturday.”

The Glenelly manager stamped his own authority on the Omagh CBS side that claimed the MacRory and Hogan Cups in the springtime. A former All-Ireland winner himself with the ‘Brothers’ it comes as no surprise that he’s now keen to make his mark with this group of Glenelly players.

They tend to play at pace, moving the ball up the park quickly through the hands, with keeper McAneney deadly accurate with the placed ball from all angles. McNulty hopes they can add a touch of excitement to the Championship and get on a run.

“ We spend a good bit of time in training working on our style of play. We try and emphasise it to players and it’s certainly nice for them to bring that onto the pitch. They are listening, taking it all in as overall it’s the style of football we want to play. “

Glenelly would face a taxing schedule of three Championship games in three successive weekends if they can get on a run, though Diarmuid fel it would be a price worth paying.

“ It can be very difficult so for the management team and the players but for now it has only been about the Augher game. To plan ahead would be madness.

“The Tyrone Junior Championship is a tough one. There will be favourites, look Fintona are going to finish second in the league, Cookstown have won it but the Championship is completely different.

“ Last year Drumquin probably should have beaten Stewartstown but they went on and reached the All Ireland final. To be honest anyone can beat anyone on their day and all you need maybe is just a rub of the green and things need to run for you, ” confirmed the St Joseph’s manager.