Lots To Look Forward To In Remaining Championship Clashes.

Friday 16.09.2011

Club

The Carrickmore/Clonoe game will certainly attract a lot of attention tonight but before it throws in there is the “small matter” of the junior quarter final between Beragh and Fintona. Both these sides will fancy their chances of winning this game and making the last four. Beragh were pushed all the way in their first round defeat of Dregish with Martin Rodgers responsible for the bulk of their scores. They will need a big display from the former county minor as well as Eddie Molloy and Niall Meenagh if they are to overcome Fintona this evening. The Red Knights lack a bit of pace up front and on a big pitch like Omagh that could well be their undoing.

Fintona enjoyed a three point victory over local rivals Drumragh in their opening game but have lacked consistency this season. Their league campaign was disappointing by their standards and the championship now offers them a chance to make amends for that. With Aaron Mc Carney, Mark Donnelly and Niall Donnelly in fine form they will be going into this game in a confident frame of mind but are only too aware of the need for a real team performance. This could well be another very close game but Fintona look the side best equipped to make it through to the semi final.

Saturday’s double header at Coalisland starts with Rock and Galbally in a real heavyweight intermediate clash. Both these sides were very impressive in their opening championship fixtures and finished their league campaigns in fine form. Galbally seem to have hit form at the right time with Paul Rafferty and the Murphys particularly accurate of late while the Mc Creesh clan and Ciaran Gourley have been to the fore of much of the Rock’s good work. Paul Quinn’s side enjoy a fine blend of pace and passion and will punish any indiscretions by the Galbally defence while the Pearses’ Paul Rafferty seems to have rediscovered his enjoyment of football and place kicking. It could well come down to a duel of the free takers and if it does Rock’s Conor Mc Creesh has shown in the past that he is the man for the big occasion.

The one remaining senior quarter final sees two of last year’s promoted sides Moortown and Derrylaughan go head to head as they battle for a place in the last four. At the start of the season both teams would have settled for league survival but at present they are sixty minutes away from a county semi final and can put any relegation play off worries to the back of their minds. It would be fair to say the two teams are blessed with a few very pacy and capable players but they lack the depth and quality to be a serious threat in the championship. Brian Mc Lernon, Mark Crozier and Peter Devlin are good for a few scores each for Moortown but you get the feeling that the Kevin Barrys just might edge this one with Shea Coney’s accuracy from frees vital to their cause and the Gervin brothers ability to hit scores on the run central to their chances.