By Michael McMullan

WHOEVER learns most from Sunday’s drawn Ulster final will come out on top in Saturday’s replay, insists Sleacht Néill coach Michael Glover.

Caitrín Dobbin’s third point levelled a game that referee Philip McDonald blew up somewhat prematurely without any stoppage time added on.

Glover insisted that while the Derry champions had ‘no issue’ with how game finished up, it has reached the point that timekeeping should be taken away from officials.

“It is another thing to try to manage and organise and make a decision on in the middle of a chaotic game,” stated Glover, who was invited back on board by the new management after the Derry final.

“In games like that, which are tight, it is tough on referees, that’s the reality of it.”

There was a surprise inclusion for Louise Dougan, who missed much of the season with a knee injury sustained on county duty.

Dougan started ahead of Josine McMullan, who he ‘hopes’ will be available for selection after a back injury.

“She is nearly 100 percent, but she hasn’t played much hurling,” outlines Glover.

Dougan came on as a substitute against Jordanstown in a challenge game before playing against St Rynagh’s and St Jude’s as the Emmet’s tailored their preparations for an seventh meeting with their Ulster rivals in six years.

With her at full-back and Céat McEldowney performing a marking job from centre-back, Aoife Ní Chaiside put in a ‘masterclass’ as their sweeper.

“She is such a composed player,” Glover said of Ní Chaiside’s performance. “Some players need instruction and a bit of direction when you are sending them out.

“You barely have to speak to her. With her game awareness, she knows what is in front of her and she knows how to play it.”

Glover has watched footage of the drawn game three times already. A first glance unearthed a serious of mistakes from both teams, but a closer look outlined how difficult it was finding the scoresheet. A goal was always going to be a big score.

“Caitrín Dobbin had a point-blank strike on the ground that still would’ve been travelling to America, if she’d connected with it,” Glover said.

At the other end, he recalls a ball that ‘on another’ day Therese Mellon would’ve got a hurl to divert a pass into the net.

“Whoever got that goal, the other team would’ve found it hard to come back,” offers Glover.

He terms the ‘crazy’ decision not have not factored in a draw into last weekend’s game, given the claustrophobic arrangement of fixtures.

The winners are out against whoever emerges from Saturday’s Leinster Final clash Oulart the Ballagh or Thomastown the following weekend, with the All-Ireland final fixed for December 1819 in Nowlan Park. Then there is the 2021 championship to finish off.

Speaking before Sleacht Néill’s team meeting on Tuesday, Glover points to his side not being as direct as they ‘should’ve been’, something that needs addressed.

“They have put in a massive amount of work, as they always do, for the last five or six weeks,” he said.

“That’s why they are still in the Ulster championship. Mistakes were made and mistakes were made on Loughgiel’s side.

“It will be another giant battle and whoever learns the most will probably be the team that comes out of it.”

IMPORTANT… Louise Dougan, left, of Slaughtneil made a surprise return last weekend