In 1981, a band of brothers including Pat McGuckin, Hugh Martin and Dessie Rocks formed a full back line that helped Ballinderry Shamrocks win their first Ulster football title.
In an age before yellow, red, black – indeed cards of any colour – forwards were lambs to the slaughter for this uncompromising unit of men.
When Pat and Hugh entered Healy Park on Sunday side by side, you got the sense the latest generation weren't going to easily compromise their dream of a third Ulster title.
A freakish goal down after just twenty-five seconds of play after a looping shot from Michael Murphy evaded Michael Conlan, it took the Shamrocks a good twenty minutes to regain full composure and to work Glenswilly out.
With a central column of three, sometimes four extra defenders in place, the Donegal men presented a problem to Ballinderry, which initially they seemed unable to solve. The Derry champions were hesitant and static, lacking the penetration that had defined their play throughout the season.
It took twelve minutes for Coilin Devlin to register the Shamrocks first score from a free – a score earned largely due to the tigerish way in which Gareth McKinless dispossessed Glenswilly's marquee forward, Michael Murphy. A superb block minutes earlier by McKinless had resulted in the Donegal captain's second score from a '45 and a four-point lead for his team.
This contest between McKinless and Murphy was one of the key battles which defined the outcome of the game. Time after time the young Shamrock blocked, harassed and frustrated the former All-Ireland winning captain and cornerstone of Glenswilly ambition.
Having deployed such an ultra-defensive setup – one which allowed Ballinderry to claim all fifteen of their own kick-outs throughout the game – it was always going to be a test of patience for the Derry champions. However, with a combination of running at pace and long, accurate kicking, points by man-of-the-match James Conway, Dermot McGuckin, Collie Devlin and Conleith Gilligan restored parity after 25 minutes of play.
Throughout the Derry and Ulster championships the one thing which has elevated this Ballinderry team above all others is their ability to blitz teams with rapid scoring bursts. Trailing 1-01 to 0-02 with 20 minutes played, the game was turned on its head within the space of six minutes as the Derry champions registered 1-03, the goal coming courtesy of a Michael McIver flick to the net following a long accurate pass from James Conway and a Ryan Bell blocked effort.
A brilliant Dermot McGuckin long range point brought the second half to a close following superb Ballinderry defence and a slice of luck when Glenswilly were denied a point with the ball striking the upright.
In media interviews after the game, Martin McKinless admitted planning another Blitzkrieg to begin the second half; the intention presumably to extend the four point lead and end the game as a contest.
Best laid plans and all that.
With an exchange of points – one of a beauty from James Conway – it was the Donegal champions who rocked Ballinderry with a Caolan Kelly goal and a Michael Murphy point to level the game after only three minutes of the second half.
With Enda Muldoon introduced for Kevin 'Moss' McGuckin a Darren McGinley point was cancelled out by Conleith Gilligan as the Shamrocks stood firm. Double defeats in Ulster final the Crossmaglen weren't about to be repeated as the Derry men produced quality scores under pressure.
Points from Coilin Devlin and Daniel McKinless; both exquisite long range efforts saw Ballinderry strike for home as Glenswilly wilted – resorting to hopeful long balls which were efficiently cleared by, among others, the excellent Raymond Wilson.
With the introduction of Aaron Devlin and Darren Conway, Ballinderry displayed strength in depth which their opponents could simply not match. That the two men both registered scores minutes after coming on served to make the point.
Had Ballinderry been more clinical in the closing stages, including a great goal chance for captain, and full back, Conor Nevin, the game would have been done and dusted much earlier than the 58th minute when the seemingly ageless Conleith Gilligan – who had danced, weaved and tormented the Glenswilly defence from start to finish – registered the insurance point.
Three-in-a-row Derry titles and now Ulster champions, it's hard not to believe that the best could yet be to come from this team.
Ballinderry: Michael Conlan; Ryan Scott, Conor Nevin, Michael McIver (1-0); Raymond Wilson, Gareth McKinless, Darren Lawn; Kevin McGuckin, James Conway (0-2); Daniel McKinless (0-1), Kevin M McGuckin, Dermot McGuckin (0-2); Coilin Devlin (0-3, 1f), Ryan Bell, Conleith Gilligan (0-3, 2f). Subs: Enda Muldoon for K.M McGuckin (33 mins), Aaron Devlin (0-1) for Lawn (39 mins), Darren Conway (0-1) for McIver (49 mins), Raymond Wilkinson for C.Devlin (58 mins).
Glenswilly: Philip O'Donnell; Brian McDaid, Eamon Ward, James Pat McDaid; Ruairi Crawford, John McFadden, Joe Gibbons; Neil Gallagher, Ciaran Bonner; Darren McGinley (0-1), Gary McFadden, Kealan McFadden; Colin Kelly (0-1), Michael Murphy (1-3, 1'45) , Caolán Kelly (1-1). Subs: Aidan McDevitt for J.McFadden (half-time), Brian Farrelly for K.McFadden (48 mins), Barry Molloy for J.McDaid (52 mins), Leon Kelly for Gibbons (60 mins), Ryan Diver for Crawford (60 mins).
Referee: Padraig Hughes (Armagh)
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