By Michael McMullan

IT was a hectic, historic and emotional Saturday Steelstown Brian Ógs, who won their first ever adult men’s championship.

As Neil Forester thrust the new Sheridan, Bateson, Lee Cup into the Ballymaguigan sky, the club’s ladies were booking their place in this weekend’s Ulster intermediate final against Fermanagh side Kinawley as they beat St Eunan’s in Belfast.

“With the ladies and the men, everybody is trying to push on for the good of the club and it is absolutely fantastic,” said former player Seb Crudden, who coached the ladies alongside manager Thomas Cusack.

On Saturday night, as they filtered back from Belfast, Steelstown clubhouse was buzzing as the men were celebrating their win over Greenlough.

“It was good craic. Having everybody there was great and the fact that there was two wins. Everybody was on a high,” said Crudden, who is married to Steelstown and Derry midfielder Emma Doherty.

“When we finished our match, everybody was straight to their phones looking for updates,” Crudden pointed out.

“I would’ve played with Gareth Logue, Neil Forester, Marty Dunne, Ryan Devine and all the boys. You be so happy for them boys.

“For them to get over that line, I was just delighted. When you play with them boys, you just know how much it means to them.

“Mickey (McKinney) is Steelstown through and through. He came on to have an impact on the game.”

With one milestone parked, they await the winners of Donegal in the Ulster championship after Dungloe’s draw with Cloughaneely.

This weekend, attention turns to ladies’ football and Saturday’s clash Kinawley.

“We set out at the start of the year to try and back up our (Derry) championship,” Crudden offered.

It was time to enter ‘bonus territory’ and seeing how their side measured up against what Ulster have to offer.

“We are getting them to go out and express themselves to see how far we can go,” he said.

“When you get into Ulster, you don’t really know much about teams so you have to focus on yourself.”

Four Leah McGonagle goals helped Steelstown to a sensational 6-14 to 5-8 win over Donegal champions St Eunan’s.

“It was mental,” Crudden recalls of a game that rained goals.

“We started well and at the first water break we had the measure of them. Then they scored 1-1 in no time.

“The girls responded really well and then they hit us again. They were a very good side and we had to be well on it to beat them.”

McGonagle, Ella-Rose Sainsbury and Aoife Collins spearheaded last weekend’s 2-12 to 1-6 win over St Brigid’ in the semi-final.

Crudden knows what is around the corner this weekend.

“Kinawley have to be decent. To down and beat Trillick in Trillick wouldn’t be the easiest things to have done.”

The challenge awaits.

Steelstown’s Neil Forester, right