Goals fire Glenullin to first Ulster title in centenary year

Ryan McNicholl of Glenullin. Photo by Ben McShane/Sportsfile

Ulster Club IFC final: Glenullin (Derry) 3-15 Cuchulainn’s (Cavan) 0-19 

Goals from Ryan McNicholl, Néill McNicholl and Eoin Bradley shot Glenullin to an historic first ever Ulster title on Sunday in Clones.

In the club’s 100th year, they now head into an All-Ireland semi-final with Connacht champions Strokestown of Roscommon.

Adam O’Reilly led Cuchulainn’s into a four-point lead before Conrad Mullan’s free opening the Glenullin account.

The ‘Glen turned the game with Ryan McNicholl’s goal. After being played in by Cillian Bradley shot rolled over the line after Cian Donoghue’s block wasn’t enough.

The sides were level twice more before Néill McNicholl kicked Glenullin into 1-7 to 0-7 interval lead.

Eoin Bradley hit a point with his first score before he hit the net. Ryan McNicholl’s intercepted a kick-out before feeding Bradley who finished to the net for a 2-9 to 0-8 lead.

Bryan Magee and Adam O’Reilly hit two pointers but Glenullin always had a response with Chrissy Demposet, Cathal Hasson and Néill McNicholl winning breaking ball.

Despite trailing by eight points, the Cavan champions pegged the game back to three points between the side in the 61st minute.

Enter Willie john Bradley to win a vital breaking ball leading to Néill McNicholl palming the insurance goal.

Scorers for Glenullin: N McNicholl 1-5 (1tp), E Bradley 1-3 (2f), R McNicholl 1-2, Donal O’Kane 0-2f, C Mullan (f), C Dempsey and F Close 0-1 each 

Scorers for Cuchulainn’s: A O’Reilly 0-7 (2tp), B Magee (1tpf), E Doughty (1f) 0-3 each, N Magee 0-2, N Carolan, T Farrelly, R Tobin and M Gilsenan 0-1 each 

GLENULLIN: N O'Kane; E Boylan, Daniel O’Kane, E O’Kane; C Rafferty, J O’Kane, D McNicholl; T Bradley, N McNicholl; Cathal Hasson, C Dempsey, C Bradley; C Mullan, Dónal O’Kane, R McNicholl 

Subs: E Bradley for C Mullan (36), F Close for Cathal Hasson (40), Cormac Hasson for D O’Kane (50), WJ Bradley for C Bradley (59), 

CUCHULAINNS: R Lennon; C Doughty, C Donoghue, R O’Connell; O Carolan, N Carolan, R Tobin; P Smyth, A Taite; T Farrelly, E Doughty, M Gilsenan; N Magee, B Magee, A O’Reilly 

Subs: O Donoghue for A Taite (45), G McCann for M Gilsenan (50), L Doyle for R O’Connell (57), S Kenny for O Carolan (60) 

Referee: E McFeely (Donegal)