GAA: Glen and Dunloy bid for All-Ireland double

The Ulster clubs are in action in Croke Park this afternoon

Glen Watty Grahams skipper Connor Carville.
Author: Gareth McCulloughPublished 22nd Jan 2023

By late afternoon, it could be an Ulster club double.

Dunloy hurlers and Glen footballers could both be travelling back up North with All-Ireland medals in their pockets if things go their way in Croke Park.

Dunloy are up first in the Senior Club Championship at 1.30pm. The Antrim side take on one of the best teams around in the form of Ballyhale Shamrocks. The Kilkenny outfit are the most successful side in the history of the competition.

They've won the Tommy Moore Cup eight times in their history and are appearing in the firth final in succession. They're also out to make up for last year's defeat in the decider to Ballygunner.

For Dunloy, they hope to make it fifth time lucky, having been defeated in the final in 1995, 1996, 2003 and 2004.

Winning their fourth Derry Senior title in succession, they got past Derry kingpins Slaughtneil in the provincial decider before meeting St Thomas' of Galway in the All-Ireland last four.

Dunloy goalkeeper and joint-captain Ryan Elliott.

For Glen, this is uncharted territory.

The Derry side saw off reigning All-Ireland Football Champions Kilcoo to lift their maiden Ulster Senior title at the end of 2022.

It's been a remarkable rise for the Watty Grahams men under Manager Malachy O'Rourke, who only conquered their own county for the first time in 2021. But, that victory over Kilcoo was followed up by an All-Ireland Semi win against Galway's Moycullen.

They're facing Dublin 's Kilmacud Crokes. Already a club steeped in history and big name players, they boosted their firepower with the controversial transfer of star Galway forward Shane Walsh at the end of last Summer.

Meanwhile, Dublin star Paul Mannion, who will return to the inter-county set-up this year,is a huge doubt for the clash after an ankle injury picked up in the quarter-final win over Cuala.

But Glen have their own stars right across the pitch and despite this being their first time in the running for the Andy Merrigan Cup, the Maghera men are unlikely to be fazed by either their opponents of the wide open spaces of GAA HQ.

Should both Dunloy and Glen emerged victorious, it would be the first time since 2012 that Ulster has held both Senior football and hurling titles in the same year.

Back then, it was Loughgiel and Crossmaglen Rangers who were the toast of the province.

Can Dunloy and Glen repeat the feat?