Glen happy for tough group tests as they continue title defence

By Michael McMullan

GLEN are well aware there is a target on their back and selector Johnny Bradley feels the tight games will stand to their squad coming into the knock-out stages.

The Watties needed five points from the impressive Ethan Doherty to shoot them to a 0-10 to 0-9 win over Dungiven on Sunday night to secure second spot in the group ahead of the quarter-finals.

Glen lost their opener to neighbours Sleacht Néill. Since then, they’ve had to hang tough in wins over Bellaghy, Swatragh and Dungiven.

Their second spot could line up a quarter-final spot against Lavey if the Erin’s Own men avoid defeat against Steelstown this weekend.

“It was a tough game, especially the last 10 minutes,” Bradley admitted of Sunday’s win on home soil.

Brothers Conor and Fionntan Murphy were on target as Dungiven made a stellar comeback only for Ethan Doherty’s interception closed out a last attack when Kevin Johnston kicked the ball into the danger zone.

“It was a game that was always going to come down to the last 10 minutes,” said Bradley. “We played some good football at times. We probably gave the ball away and were punished at different times coming into the last 10 minutes.

“That’s the way you want it coming into the last couple of games of the group. I think if you look at the championship over the last three or four years, even the quarter finals and in the last 16, there’s been tough, tough games that you had to grind it out.”

Glen take on league champions Kilrea this weekend, the only team not in with a chance of making the knock-out stages after their draw with Swatragh on Saturday.

Looking back over Glen’s path to date, Bradley, who also looks after the team’s analysis, feels the tight battles will stand to a team more than a comfortable route.

“You want to be going in very competitive and you want to be able to see how you cope in those situations going into the last 10 minutes and hopefully you can learn for the next day,” he said.

Sunday’s win over Dungiven saw a youthful but well-drilled visiting team ask Glen plenty of questions. Goalkeeper Kian McGonigle’s restarts coupled with the movement outfield to leave pockets of space for McGonigle to find gave James McNicholl’s side a platform to build their performance on.

There was the energy of Sean McKeever attacking from deep and an overall collective hunger that invariably comes when pitting their wits against the champions. It’s something Glen have witnessed in every game this season.

“Whoever is the reigning champion is always going to have a massive target in their back,” Bradley said.

“Sleacht Néill had to carry that tag for a long time and they did it with aplomb when they were winning the championships, in their four in a row (2014-2017).

“We know there’s a target in our back as well. But, sure, that’s what you want. That’s the challenges you want to face and we’re happy to meet it every week like that.”

While Ethan Doherty starred with 0-5, Glen were without his brother Jack and Danny Tallon who are on the injured list. Conor Glass, who shipped a heavy knock in the game, was replaced in the second half.

Another of their All-Ireland winning team, Cathal Mulholland, travelled to Australia and hasn’t featured.

Bradley revealed that injuries to Tallon and Jack Doherty aren’t serious. It’s about boxing clever and keeping an eye on the knocks that come along during the season.

“With the group stages and the stage we are at now, you can nearly afford to be very wary of players,” said Bradley.

“You just want to make sure that you don’t put them into any positions that will maybe hurt them all down the line when it comes to knockout.

“Jack and Danny are in that situation. We’re just making sure they’re in good nick before they go into the championship (knock-out stages).