GAA: Four goal Glenullin too hot for Sarsfields to handle at Armagh Athletic Grounds

Glenullin 4-16, High Moss Sarsfields 2-08

Conrad Mullan and Ryan McNicholl inspired Glenullin to an ultimately emphatic 14-point victory over Armagh's High Moss Sarsfields in Sunday's Ulster Intermediate Club Football quarter-final at the Athletic Grounds.

Michael O'Kane's men were always in charge but never quite comfortable against a Sarsfields team that had the Mitchel's back to two points early in the second half before the Oak Leaf side stepped on the gas to wheel away with 3-03 in the final quarter.

Following their preliminary round victory over Moneyglass, it means Glenullin have now registered 17 and 14 point winning margins, scoring a combined 6-33 across their two Ulster ties en route to what looks an intriguing semi-final date with Carrickmacross.

Much of that potency can be contributed to a free flowing front three that Sarsfields never got to grips with. McNicholl and Mullan scored 3-08 between them, including two of the final three goals that pushed Glenullin into the comfort zone for the game's last 10 minutes. Aiding and abetting that dynamic duo was Donal O'Kane who himself hit 0-3 but if the final scoreline looked straightforward, this was never a tie that allowed Glenullin to fully relax.

And while the front three will hog the headlines, the likes of Cathal Hasson, Eunan Boylan and Chrissy Dempsey were equally as important, and impressive, as they got through a mountain of work to ensure their team were always in a position to strike. Definitely a step up from the Moneyglass game, Sarsfields asked plenty of questions but the Derry champions had match winners who stepped forward when they needed them.

The Orchard County men started with the bright Athletic Grounds sun shining straight in to their eyes and they were somewhat fortunate to only be trailing by four at the break following an opening half in which, if not exactly dominated by Glenullin, it certainly showed the Derry men to be the better team.

Much of that was down to McNicholl, Mullan and O'Kane who between them contributed 1-06 of the Mitchel's first half tally of 1-08. Michael O'Kane had obviously put an emphasis on pressurising the Sarsfields kick-out and it paid rich dividends, a mixture of poor restarts and two excellent Neil McNicholl catches contributing 1-03 before the short whistle.

After two early wides Glenullin's opening point on five minutes was the result of a misplaced home kick-out which was intercepted by Ryan McNicholl who returned it back over the bar with interest, a lead that was soon doubled by Diarmuid McNicholl.

Callum McGibbon, son of former Manchester United and NI International player, Pat, got the Sarsfields up and running on eight minutes but Glenullin were already 0-5 to 0-2 up by the time O'Kane fed McNicholl to charge to and fire a superb to the Sarsfields net.

That goal was added to by points from Mullan and Glenullin looked in charge at 1-06 to 0-03 with 19 minutes gone but just three minutes later a spill by Niall O'Kane allowed Paul McCaughey to punch the ball to the net, although Conor Rafferty was adamant he had got back to clear the ball off the line.

Two more Donal O'Kane points were answered by a McGibbon free off the ground but Glenullin will have been disappointed to go in only four ahead at 1-08 to 1-04.

Glenullin seemed intent on righting that particular wrong when Mullan started the second half with a sublime two point effort from wide out on the right but Sarsfields response was another fisted goal, midfielder Conal McCann this time the man to take advantage of good work from McCaughey.

Indeed when Michael Stevenson's free made it 1-11 to 2-06 in the 43rd minute Glenullin were in the middle of a right battle, but their response was breathtaking.

Limiting the Armagh men to only two further points over the remaining 21minutes, which included four added, O'Kane's team went through the gears just when they needed to with McNicholl's second goal the brilliant catalyst for the upsurge.

A patient move ended with the former Derry minor taking possession in what most would’ve considered point-taking territory but McNicholl had no such thoughts, accelerating away from two challenges to rifle a fierce finish across Stephen McArdle and into the far corner for 2-14 to 2-06.

Inside a minute Cillian Bradley's pass was sending Cathal Hasson away to finish low into the corner for a goal his excellent display fully merited and when Mullen decided to get in on the goalscoring act only minutes later, it was game, set and match Glenullin.

Considering Eoin Bradley was on by this stage and doing his best to grab a few headlines with a nice 0-3 cameo, Glenullin's attack was simply too hot for Sarsfields to handle. Carrickmacross are next up and if they can maintain this type of shooting, Glneullin will be difficult to stop.

Glenullin scorers: Ryan McNicholl 2-1, Conrad Mullan 1-7 (1tp, 1f), Cathal Hasson 1-0, Donal O'Kane 0-3 (2f), Diarmuid McNicholl 0-1, Cillian Bradley 0-1, Eoin Bradley 0-3 (2f).

Sarsfields scorers: Paul McCaughey 1-0, Conal McCann 1-0, Callum McKibbon 0-2 (1f), Eamon McGeown 0-2, (1f), Paul McGeown 0-1 (1f), Michael Stevenson 0-2, Kevin McAlinden 0-1.

Glenullin: Niall O'Kane, Eunan Boylan, Daniel O'Kane, Eunan O'Kane, Conor Rafferty, John O'Kane, Diarmuid McNicholl, Traglach Bradley, Neil McNicholl, Cathal Hasson, Chrissy Dempsey, Cillian Bradley, Conrad Mullan, Donal O'Kane, Ryan McNicholl. (Subs) Eoin Bradley for D O'Kane, 46mins; Joe McNicholl for C Dempsey, 47mins; Fearghal Close for C Hasson, 58mins; Cormac Hasson for E Boylan, 61mins.

High Moss, Sarsfields: Stephen McArdle, James McAlinden, Sean Skelton, Shane McAlinden, Niall Kerr, Fintan Kelly, Ronan Sloan, Conal McCann, Eamon McGeown, Luke Donnelly, Paul McCaughey, Callum McGibbon, Michael Stevenson, Paul McGeown, Thomas McAlinden. (Subs) Sean McAlinden for F Kelly (inj), 21mins; Kevin McAlinden for T McAlinden, 41mins; Declan Breenj for P McCaughey, 53mins; Eoghan McMahon for R Sloan, 55mins; Michael McKenna for M Stevenson, 58mins.

Referee: Pat Clarke (Cavan)