By Niall Gartland

BELLAGHY are set to take on All-Ireland kingpins Glen in their second group stage match of the campaign this weekend, but it doesn’t quite get the hair standing on the back of the neck like a true knock-out championship game.

Damian Cassidy’s side got off to a winning start with victory over Kilrea, while Glen stuttered to defeat against Sleacht Néill, but if the last few years have taught us anything, it’s that the Watty Graham’s are adept at timing their run to perfection.

If Glen loses two games in a row, however, it would certainly raise a few eyebrows, and Bellaghy backroom member Paul Diamond says talk of a possible demise would be very premature indeed.

“Glen are still the team to beat, they’re the benchmark for all the clubs in Ireland, not just Derry.

“The impressive thing about Glen is that they’ve added four or five very promising young players into their squad – not necessarily starters but really strong players to be bringing through, for example Johnny McGuckian who was named minor footballer of the year last year. He’s a fine, fine player. Glen are definitely the ones to catch and everyone is doing their absolute best to get there.”

The group stage format has come in for stick due to its perceived lack of jeopardy, and Diamond argues that a change to the structures could be beneficial. The thought process back-boning the group stage format is permitting county players to get reacquainted with their clubs (Bellaghy two them – Paul and Declan Cassidy) before the really hot and heavy stuff, but there seems to be particular leeway afforded to the top teams in Derry.

Diamond says: “It definitely benefits the ‘stronger’ teams and I say that in inverted commas, because it allows them to integrate county players back into their teams.

“That’s the logic and this year only two teams out of each division will miss out on qualification, last year it was three, so there is even less jeopardy.

“Knock-out is what the GAA thrives on and it’s what people love to see. What’s happened across the province is that shocks are fewer and far between, you always see the likes of Glen, Kilcoo and Scotstown continually coming out of their counties.

“The best teams usually win anyway, but I suppose the outlier is Tyrone where they have straight knock-out and you have different teams winning every year.

“For me the ultimate format would be the introduction of a 16-team division with four or five league matches after things are wrapped up with the county and then moving into a straight knock-out. I think that would work best for all.”

Last year Bellaghy won their first league title since 2004 and Diamond explained their current priorities.

“This year has been about pretty much trying to instill a way of playing more so than anything else. It’s been positive and we’re very happy. The boys have done really well and they had a really good victory on their first day out against a strong Kilrea team.”