Busy Two Days On Several Fronts With Lots At Stake For All.

Friday 06.04.2012

Club

A busy weekend of GAA activity involving Tyrone players sees two All Ireland football titles up for grabs at Croke Park, Handball titles to play for in Limerick and Kilkenny, a Minor League Hurling title down for decision on Sunday not to mention the small matter of an unbeaten league run to maintain for the senior footballers. Quite a lot to choose from and Teamtalkmag.com will keep our readers informed of all that happens on the pitch and on the court.

We will be in Croke Park on Saturday afternoon to bring live updates in both of the Schools’ finals as Holy Trinity Cookstown and St Michael’s Enniskillen go in search of glory. The Cookstown lads will be facing reigning champions Gallen of Ferbane in Offaly in a repeat of last year’s semi final. Adrian O’Donnell’s side will be hoping to make up for the disappointment of losing that one. Holy Trinity have looked very impressive in their run to the final but know that they will have to produce a big hour’s football if they are to overcome a very experienced and highly rated Offaly outfit.

Following that game Trillick teenager Rory Brennan will lead out his school mates as St Michael’s Enniskillen also face Offaly opposition in the final of The Hogan Cup. Neither side has won this title before but the Fermanagh lads have faced the more difficult route to the final. They seem to play best when facing adversary and Saturday’s challenge will be the biggest challenge they have faced so far. Hopefully young Brennan will continue to lead by example and climb the steps of the Hogan Stand to accept the Hogan Cup on behalf of his colleagues.

Sunday afternoon presents the minor hurlers of Tyrone with an opportunity to not only showcase their skills but also to collect an Ulster Minor League medal when they take on Monaghan in the final at Healy Park. Declan Bennett knows his side face a tough challenge but will expect home advantage to give them a boost as they seek to claim the league title. Monaghan have already beaten Tyrone once this season and looked a more than useful side last time out. It is a big task for the young hurlers but one they are capable of delivering on.

Handball is continuing to thrive in the county particularly within its traditional strongholds of Loughmacrory, Brackey and Carrickmore and players from these areas will be competing in the All Ireland underage finals on Saturday and Sunday. Hopes are high for a few National titles coming to Tyrone over the weekend and we look forward to reporting on the games as the girls and boys compete for right to be called All Ireland Champions.

Sunday of course sees the last match of the Division Two league campaign and Mickey Harte will be hoping for a final league victory before the league final itself. Monaghan are the visitors to Healy Park and as usual Tyrone will be expecting no favours from a side fighting for their Division Two survival. The manager has selected a side with a nice mixture of youth and experience but one with a certain familiarity about it. Tyrone have been very consistent this year and will expect to maintain this consistency at the weekend but know that Eamon Mc Eneaney’s side are well capable of causing an upset.

Historically games between the two sides are fiercely competitive and Sunday’s will be no different. The fact that both teams are at opposite sides of the spectrum in terms of league positions will count for nothing when the ball is thrown in on Sunday. Expect an all action, highly committed game with Tyrone’s greater fire power to prove the difference.