Intrigue And Questions Aplenty At The Bottom

Saturday 14.05.2011

Club

While there will be lots to play for in the clashes involving the top four teams in Division One especially the game between Carrickmore and Ardboe, the games with most hanging on their outcome are taking place at the other end of the table. The matches involving Killyclogher and Derrylaughan and Moy and Cookstown have much more than just two points at stake. These are the sorts of games that even at this early stage of the season could have a huge bearing on the survival chances of these sides. If you were a betting man it might be worth putting a few pounds on the losers of these two fixtures to be relegated.

Killyclogher face Derrylaughan at home after a week of what can only be described as turmoil for the club and its officers. The news that manager Charlie Mulgrew and the club had parted ways came as a huge shock to many of the club’s followers. The Donegal man had not enjoyed the best of starts with Killyclogher but the nature of his departure certainly surprised many involved with the Ballinamullen outfit. Further bad news for Killyclogher came when it was announced that star forward Leo Meenan had received a twelve week suspension after his red card against Errigal last weekend. New management team Kieran Howe and Brian Meenan will be hoping they can change the club’s fortunes and two points against Derrylaughan would be the ideal start but the absence of former county player Leo Meenan is going to make a difficult task much harder.

Moy, Cookstown and Derrylaughan have not made the best of starts to their seasons and with almost a third of the fixtures gone all three teams realise the importance of this weekend’s games. Cookstown look bereft of confidence and that is reflected on their position at the foot of the table. Moy have shown in flashes that they are a capable side when they put their minds to it and will be confident of getting a win in this one. Meanwhile Derrylaughan will travel to Cappagh wondering just what sort of a side Killyclogher are going to field. Will they face a fired up and committed team determined to kick-start their season or will they be confronted a team lacking leadership and short on confidence? Whichever sides emerge victorious in these two matches at least one of the results will be sure to resonate far beyond the county boundaries of Tyrone.