​Momentum is building says Cullyhanna manager Reel

​Cullyhanna appear to be firing on all cylinders ahead of Saturday’s Armagh Intermediate Football Championship Semi-final against Pearse Ogs.

However, manager Stephen Reel explained that it has been a process to get the team to this point, after they missed out on the Division 2A league promotion, following the return of their Armagh inter-county trio: Aidan Nugent, Jason Duffy and Ross McQuillan.

“We had a good league campaign right up until the county players came back in,” said Reel.

“It’s great to have three players on the county panel, but it was probably to our detriment, because it can disjoint a team when they come back. That’s what happen when the players don’t play together or train together.

“We struggled at the tail end of the league as a result of that, but Championship-wise, the group stages really suited us, to get those boys bedded in, with a run of games with them in the team.

“It was important that we got those group games for momentum.”

Cullyhanna are favourites to win the Intermediate crown, and four wins from four has them in great form.

Furthermore, the margins of victory – 13 points against Belleek, 18 points against Middletown, eight points against Tullysaran, and 19 points against Derrynoose – is extremely impressive.

However, Reel believes that there is more to come from his side.

“Maybe the scorelines don’t suggest it, but those were tough games,” he said.“The games against Belleek and Tullysaran were very tough, we were lucky come out on the right side of the results. Then we had another difficult draw against Derrynoose last week, and we couldn’t afford to look past them, because they’re a decent team.

“There is still more in us. Our work rate can be better, we can better in front of goal. There are definitely more improvements to be made.”

Although they have brushed all their previous opponents aside, there is little doubt that this weekend’s clash against Pearse Ogs will be their toughest to date.

Like Cullyhanna, the Ogs were relegated from Senior grade last year, and have full intentions of an immediate return.

“We know a lot about each other,” said Reel.

“It will be interesting to see what approach they take to the game. They have experienced players there in, and plenty of firepower.

“They’re a strong, physical team around the middle. They’re defensively well set up annd they can get scores, so we will need to be ready for our toughest game yet.”

Luckily for Cullyhanna, they’re going into their biggest game of the season to date, with their healthiest panel of the season.

“This is probably the biggest squad we have had to pick from in a long time,” said Reel.

“It’s an important week, so, it’s just about getting through this week with no knocks and niggles.”