Derry champions Glen in fine form

By Shaun Casey

GLEN have been in fine form so far this season as the league campaign nears its conclusion, winning ten of their 12 outings to sit at the top of the table.

Following last year’s heroics, there’s clearly no hangover after winning their first ever championship insists selector Johnny Bradley.

“We’re ultimately pleased so far with the league. I suppose at this stage of the season to have 12 games, it’s brilliant, it allows us to look at different boys and different ways and teams are approaching it in different ways.

“It’s great to get ten wins out of 12 and obviously championship is coming up thick and fast over the next six or seven weeks so it’s just great. You’re going to get 15 games in the league, so it’s just great to be able to play football in a pretty consistent way.

“The boys in fairness, we finished in December last year and the league started around April time, so the boys got a good break. The boys have really been looking forward to the games and enjoying it and it’s good to get back playing a bit of football again after the break and the boys have done really, really well.

“That’s what everybody wants, as much games as we possibly can and thankfully, we’ve got that. Last year’s league, we had maybe 12 league games last year and it was quite tight. We started in May, so it’s good to get it now at this stage of the season and with the rules lifted it’s great to have crowds back and the changing rooms back open again.”

It’s a week-by-week approach that Malachy O’Rourke’s men have taken this season as they build towards the championship group stages where they meet Banagher, Claudy and Swatragh.

“You just take every week as it comes and you’re just trying to get boys back into it after the new season and every team’s doing the same. It’s just about taking every week as it comes and seeing where boys are at fitness-wise and giving the younger boys a bit of a run as well.

“We have a few really good u-19s there and integrating a few boys into the squad but also trying boys out in different positions or whatever. It’s just about getting consistency every week and keeping it up for August now.

“Those three games in the group stages generate a wee bit of momentum and get a consistent team together and I think most teams enjoyed it last year and got a lot out of those group games at the start of the championship to move into the last 16 then into the quarterfinals.

“With the county going so well, it’s great to have those group games to integrate the boys back after Derry (are finished).”

“It’s definitely great to get looking at boys in different positions and seeing how well they cope. The league has been competitive, and you get to see where boys are at. At the same time, I’ll be looking forward to getting them back whenever Derry are over.”