Setanta have their sights set on Ulster glory this Sunday

Setanta hurlers are exactly where they want to be!

That is the firm view of their genial manager Gary McGettigan as they prepare to take on Shane O’Neill’s of Glenarm from the fabled Glens of Antrim in Celtic Park, Derry on Sunday (1.45 pm).

McGettigan said that ever since they edged out Burt in a thrilling county final their sights were firmly set on getting back into an Ulster JHC final - and winning it! They won it for the first time ever in 2017, but face a huge task against a most skilful Antrim side who have loads of scoring power.

“That was our target once we won the Donegal county title and now we are there after two very good tests against Eoghan Ruadh, Dungannon and Na Magha from Derry city.

“We watched the video of the Shane O’Neill’s and Sean Treacy’s of Lurgan and the O’Neill’s won by 1-20 to 0-12. It was hard to know if it was a case of O’Neill’s being very good or Treacy’s having a real off day.

“But either way, they had a good win and will present us with a huge challenge, but it is one we are looking forward to. They are a very useful team, and they have five or six really useful forwards, and they are strong at the back and strong at midfield. It will be a big task for us”.

He added: “They have a good balanced mix, a bit similar to ourselves. Darren Hamill is in his early 30s and he used to play for Antrim, and he plays on the 40 and he is a very useful player.

“And they have Daniel Black in the middle of the field, and he is a big strong man who will take a bit of watching. It was a one-sided game and their quality really shone through”.

When asked if they were better than Na Magha, he said they would be a slight step for the men from in and around the Cross. “Glenarm would have beaten Na Magha, who play in the Antrim League Division Three”.

Meanwhile, Setanta have had a spate of ‘flu with around half a dozen players not able to train for a few nights last night, but McGettigan is expecting a full line out for the big one at the weekend.

“We have had two good physical battles with Dungannon and Na Magha and that should stand to us for the final. They were good tests, and they are two different types of teams with Na Magha more direct and Dungannon inclined to spray the ball around. But they were good tests for us.

“There is a great buzz around the Cross these days at being back in an Ulster final and it lifts the whole area.”

And while Declan Coulter may be 35 his tally of 0-14 in the semi-final was remarkable and really drove his team on.
“He was deadly accurate and was fouled for a few frees as well and he gave us a great lift”.

Another big boost is the added physicality brought by young emerging players like Steven McBride, Oisin Marley, Josh Cronnolly McGee and Sean Ward to augment the physical presence of older more experienced heads like Mick Donaghue, Niall Cleary, Declan Coulter and Danny Cullen.

“Yes, that physical presence is very important in winter hurling, and we are lucky that we have all these lads coming through as Declan Coulter and Danny Cullen (33) can’t go on forever.

“The ball is not bouncing as much, and you need the big strong men to go in and win the dirty ball in the rucks and we are developing that facet of our game all the time. We also have some small light lads who are very skillful and can score”.

McGettigan though is looking forward to the challenge.

“It is an Ulster final and ever since the county title we had our sights set on winning the Ulster title.”