Ladies Planning For Packed Weekend Of Club And County Knockout Action.

Saturday 19.05.2012

Club

LADIES FOOTBALL
ULSTER MINOR FOOTBALL FINAL

Back to back Ulster minor titles will be on the agenda for the Tyrone minors on Saturday as they once again renew rivalries with Donegal in the Ulster minor football final at the home of Monaghan Harps. Last year, perhaps unexpectedly a young Tyrone upset the form guide as they outshone the Tir Connail side at rain lashed Irvinestown to annex the Ulster crown.
It may have come as a surprise to some but certainly not manager Pius Fox who had felt from the start of last year’s campaign that Tyrone would be there or thereabouts come the final,
“The bulk of that squad had come through underage teams with myself and Louise (Daly) and I knew they had the ability, we have the mainstay of last year’s squad still with us this year and we have added to the squad in the time since”
Tyrone have not had it all their own way this season but still finished top of the group and are set to go head to head with Donegal again.
Having played three and won three including a big win over Saturday’s opponents Tyrone will have to produce another top grade performance despite indifferent Donegal form, Ulster finals tend to bring out the best whatever group form has been like.
Issues behind the scenes hampered Donegal’s early build up but they have regrouped beating Armagh and of course losing to Tyrone, their game with Down didn’t materialise and they did just about enough to reach the final . Four points separated them from an ever improving Armagh while the Fox and Daly marshalled Tyrone had just a single point to spare over the Orchard side, since that though Tyrone have several key personnel back in the squad after schools involvement.
The O’Neill County though do go into the game with injury issues. Talisman forward Teri McCusker has had to sit out several weeks of activity with a back injury. The Cappagh ace though has returned to training this week but will be well off the pace if she gets the chance on Saturday while Omagh’s Cara McCrossan, who will cross swords with McCusker in the senior football championship on Monday night has also been out of the championship final build up with a similar problem. The build up then for the Tyrone side has been difficult then but with the experience of last year’s success against a stronger Donegal behind them this squad will go into the tie with an air of confidence,
“They know what to expect from Donegal. We racked up a good score in the group stages but will be aware of the scoring threat of a stung Donegal who will certainly be out to make amends for last year’s loss and that loss at Killesshill back in April” explained Fox as he focused his attentions on the final.
Saturday’s final has a 3pm throw in at Monaghan Harps.

TYRONE MINOR SQUAD 2012
Cara mc Crossan St Enda’s
Emma Collins St Enda’s
Shannon Skelton Aghyaran
Clara mc Menamin Aghyaran
Teri Mc Cusker Cappagh
Emma Mc Aleer Cappagh
Michelle Christy Eoghain Rua
Caoiliann Kelly Urney
Tori Mc Laughlin Sigerson’s
Bronagh Ni Eoghain Sigerson’s
Rebecca Barker Aodh Ruadh
Orla Mallon Aodh Ruadh
Eadaoin Devlin Aodh Ruadh
Louise kelly Cill Iseal
Ursula Mc Gee Cill Iseal
Genenieve Scullion Cill Iseal
Anne Scullion Cill Iseal
Emma Louise Mulgrew Cill Iseal
Faoiltiarna Keenan Cill Iseal
Laura Mc Sorley Mna Na Deirge
Leah Lynch Mna Na Deirge
Grace Quinn Mna Na Deirge
Laura Kilpatrick Rock St Patrick’s

Ellen mc Cullagh Glenelly
Emma Connolly Edendork
Alice Mc Nally Kildress
Breige Mullan Errigal Ciaran
Fionnuala Conwell Clann Na nGael
Alana Mc Shane Clann Na nGael
Michaela Mc Guigan Pomeroy

Ulster minor football championship results to date

Down –Tyrone Conceded by Down
Armagh 1-7 1-11 Donegal

Tyrone 2-16 3-5 Donegal
Tyrone 2-14 2-13 Armagh

Tyrone’s under 14s meanwhile suffered a heartbreaking loss in Sundays Ulster under 14 final at rain lashed Lisnaskea.
Monaghan were strong and beat Tyrone 2-2 to 0-3 in a low scoring affair played in near Winter conditions. A young Tyrone side did have their chances especially in the opening half when with the gale at their backs they hit seven wides in a dominant opening ten minute spell. The heavy ground though didn’t help Tyrone and the physically stronger Monaghan got the two goals just before half time. They held their lead and kept Tyrone’s attack on the back foot.

CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP FOCUS THIS WEEKEND
The club action in Tyrone switches this weekend to championship mode with Junior, Intermediate and Senior opening rounds pencilled in.
The senior football championship will open on Monday night with two corkers down for decision .
Dungannons Aodh Ruadh are an improving force but will have to be at their very best if they are to deny the champions St Macartans. “Macartans” are still the team to beat and whatever happens in the league campaigns down the years this experienced bunch will be hard to stop, eyeing yet another title later in the summer. They boast a vast array of quality but Dungannon are not just in it to make up the numbers in the championship this term and have been quietly building towards the Monday night tie.
The opener on Monday night will see two neighbours who have had plenty of ding dong battles in the recent past, Omagh and Cappagh go head to head in the championship arena, this time though at the first round stage.
Last year Omagh sealed the Tyrone intermediate title at Cappagh’s expense on route to the Ulster final, revenge perhaps for their junior final defeat in the 2009 junior final. Both teams have had difficult debuts in senior football but in the past if history is anything to go on the championship has brought out the best in the two West Tyrone rivals.
Injuries and unavailability of players have been a big problem, perhaps more for Omagh than Monday’s opponents Cappagh., Injuries have robbed them of Michaela O’Neill, Cara McCrossan and Christiane Hunter while upwards on four others from the most successful two years in the clubs twenty year history will be missing. Teri McCusker is carrying injury into the tie for Cappagh while at Ballinamullan too unavailable players are an issue for Aidan O’Neill and Gary Wallace.
An early throw in is pencilled in for the big Omagh Cappagh derby and that too will have an effect on both sides with players working as far away in Belfast, Dublin and Sligo facing quite a dash to be in time for what is set to be a closer affair than the opening league fixture of the season that saw a “Blues” victory.

Sat 19th May @ 6pm in Donaghmore
Intermediate Championship Quarter Final
Extra time if required
Trillick v Ardboe
Monday 21st May
SENIOR FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP
Mna Naomh Eanna An Omaigh V Ceappach
Naomh Mhic artain V Aodh Ruadh