By Ciaran Woods

c.woods@gaeliclife.com

In 1972 a crack commando unit was sent to prison by a military court for a crime they didn't commit. These men promptly escaped from a maximum security stockade to the Los Angeles underground. Today, still wanted by the government, they survive as soldiers of fortune. If you have a problem, if no one else can help, and if you can find them, maybe you can hire... The A-Team.

Go onto the BBC website this week and you'll see footage from inside the St Gall's dressing room after they won the Ulster senior club title on Sunday afternoon at Newry.

Dermot Niblock leads the way, running through the A-Team intro as the team wait impatiently before the entire dressing room goes bananas, jumping and singing along to the famous television theme tune.

It's been a long-running party piece for the team, one which Niblock pulled out of the blue a few seasons ago and which is wheeled out for special occasions. And last Sunday was certainly one of those.

You can't argue with the sentiment either. St Gall's are Ulster's A-Team, the province's most effective and deadly force. They certainly blew away Loup with serious efficiency in their latest assignment last Sunday afternoon.

You can only admire what they did last Sunday afternoon. Not only did they see off the Derry champions to make sure the Seamus McFerran cup headed back to Milltown Row, but they set a new marker as to how to go about winning Ulster's top club prize.

Crossmaglen have been the dominant force and St Gall's have struggled to overcome them, but you couldn't help but think that even if Cross, the greatest exponents of club football the country has ever seen, had been their opponents, St Gall's still wouldn't have been stopped. This is a new type of St Gall's side; confident, ruthless and afraid of nothing. They decided they were going to do things their way and they did it in style.

They blitzed their way through the Antrim championship. People tipped Cargin to possibly topple St Gall's this time out, but they were easily disposed of. Portglenone were backed to make a game of it in the final, but they too got blew out of the water. Another Antrim title in the bag, it was time to get down to the real business of it. Ulster beckons.

First up, Cavan Gaels. At Breffni Park. Revenge on the cards, and there's only one result that matters. After the sort of dogfight which St Gall's lost out in so many times in the past, this time they squeezed through. They felt the aches and bruises, but the job was done. They had put down a marker. Play football and they'll beat you, try the physical stuff and they'll beat you that way too.

Key personnel were missing against Pearse Og's, an unknown force, but the Milltown men pushed on to take their place in the semi-final. Only two more steps to go. Next up Clontibret, who can point to the absence of key players and anything else they want, but the score line is all that counts. In that respect it was a cake-walk for St Gall's, who were back in the Ulster final.

So what would Loup bring to the table? The simple fact was that apart from a 20 minute spell in the first half, the provincial final was a pretty straightforward outing for St Gall's. Loup's systems, their talented stars and great football which saw them win a hard-fought Derry title and then beat Derrygonnelly and Kilcoo ran out of puff when they came up against the big blue machine.

So what is it that makes this St Gall's team arguably one of the best club teams Ulster has ever produced? It's quite simply because they've got it all.

The stereotypes thrown at Antrim teams of the past, and urban teams in general, simply don't fit with Galls. They don't buckle when the pressure is screwed on them. They don't start to bitch and argue when things aren't going their way. They can't be bullied into submission. They aren't a collection of 'fancy Dan' footballers.

From the physically imposing frame of Ronan Gallagher in goals right through to his brother Rory at the edge of the opposition square, they've got a great physical presence. Gallagher, Andy McClean, Anto Healy, Aodhan Gallagher and Sean Burke, Kevin McGourty and another Gallagher. That's as strong of a spine as there is in many county teams.

The rest of the defence is just as miserly. Colin Brady is a class act, Paul Veronica is tenacious and mobile in the other corner. Sean Kelly is the heartbeat of the defence while Anto Healy has revelled in his new role at centre-back since moving in from the wing, Mark Kelly's man was subbed off after 20 minutes.

In Aodhan Gallagher in the middle of the park they have arguably the best footballer in Antrim at present. His burgeoning maturity over the past 12 months has been quite incredible, to the point where he is one of the real reasons behind his side's Ulster triumph. Much of Sean Burke's work alongside may go unnoticed, but he brings real quality to the engine room. He's a tough, uncompromising ball winner who does the simple things well and ensures a constant supply of ball reaches the St Gall's attack.

And what an attacking force it is. A half-forward line of Kevin McGourty, Terry O'Neill and Kieran McGourty. Kevin McGourty has rediscovered his hunger and appetite for the game and has grown in stature as the season has gone on, his indefatigable fitness making him an ideal ball-winner and ball-carrier. O'Neill adds a defensive element to the half-forward line, foraging back around midfield and his own half-back line to great effect as well as linking the defence to attack. Kieran McGourty likewise. He may not be a prolific scorer but that's not his job. He's another unsung hero, who is playing the football of his life at present.

CJ McGourty continues to grow and develop as a potent finisher and appears to have cast of the inconsistency which blighted his earlier excursions at senior level. He's more measured in his approach and shot selection and is playing with the confidence so crucial to an attacker. Rory Gallagher's addition to the attack has brought a new dimension to their play. He may not be the quickest, but has the guile, skill and experience to pull the strings up front He is a lethal finisher when chances present themselves.

But the key to the whole thing is Kevin Niblock. Despite being hampered by an ankle ligament injury which has limited his preparations, he brings sheer class to the St Gall's attack. If he could get a run of games he would show why he's rated as one of the top play-makers in the province, not only with the ability to spray passes and launch attacks, but also with the rare physical ability to win primary possession.

And in Lenny Harbinson they have unearthed a man who can bring it all together. St Gall's have flirted with outsiders in the past with mixed success, but Harbinson knows these players inside out. He has guided them through the underage ranks and his assured, confident approach has brought the best out of the Galls.

The Milltown men have already shown that they're Ulster's A-Team, the challenge to them now is to keep their A-Game going for just two more steps to take them to the promised land. Can they keep their momentum and their heads until February, when it is so easy to come unstuck in the frosty months to come?

Greatness awaits, and the current St Gall's outfit are the team to deliver.