By Michael McMullan

DRUMSURN go into Saturday’s intermediate semi-final showdown with Greenlough as underdogs, but they aren’t there to make up the numbers.

That’s the view of manager Sean Brady who steered Drumsurn to the Division 1B league title in his first season as manager.

Brady insists that staying in division was their initial priority, with four senior championship clubs – Dungiven, Banagher, Foreglen and Kilrea – in the frame.

“Gradually we kept on winning, and with Dungiven dropping points we felt we could win it,” Brady said.

“Kilrea were the only team to beat us and we were understrength that day. It was a good league campaign. The momentum ‘stopped’ at the group stages.”

On their way to the league title, Drumsurn were 3-10 to 1-10 winners over Saturday’s opponents Greenlough, with the sides playing out a draw in the championship group stages.

“They were missing Niall (Loughlin) and Brian McCallion, two big players for them,” Brady said of their 3-10 to 1-10 league victory.

“In the championship game, it was in their back yard and they should’ve had us dead and buried in the first 10 minutes.”

Greenlough are bidding for a third intermediate title in seven seasons and Brady points to this weekend’s clash being a ‘massive’ game for his side.

“Whoever beats Greenlough will win the championship,” he said.

With the final fixed for his native Ballymaguigan, Brady said the wider spaces of Owenbeg will suit Drumsurn.

“Greenlough like to get men behind the ball. On a big pitch like Owenbeg, it is not as easy to get 13 or 14 men back,” he said.

It will be their third meeting of the season and Brady, who has watched Greenlough in ‘a few friendlies’, knows the challenge ahead.

“Everybody knows what Niall (Loughlin) and Enda (Lynn) bring. They are two quality players and you are not going to stop them completely, but if we can nullify them a wee bit we have a chance,” said Brady.

Daryl Mullan and Connor Foster are rehabbing from cruciate ligament operations. Everyone else is available, including Tiarnán McHugh who played for Kevin Lynch’s in Sunday’s Derry senior hurling final.

Brady also highlighted the input of the entire squad, with the reserves winning their first knock-out game in a decade with their extra-time win over Faughanvale.

“I keep saying that it is not about the 15 or 20 players that play on the senior team.

“The number 35 is as important as number one. They are at training every night. They are the boys that are doing the slogging.

“These boys have been training for 10 months, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday and the weekend. They are definitely putting in the effort, so hopefully they get the rewards on Saturday.”

Brady points out that ‘10 or 12’ players are in their prime and form the backbone of the club for the next ‘seven or eight’ years. Ciaran Mullan, Steven and Christopher Harbinson are among the elder statesmen.

“(Tiarnán) McHugh isn’t that old either. You have Tiarnán Woods, he is a quality footballer in my eyes. He won a minor All-Star and you don’t win one of them if you’re too shabby,” Brady stresses.

“Going by reports from the club there are one or two coming next year from the underage setup.”

CHAMPIONS…The Drumsurn squad – winners of Division 1B.