Lots To Look Forward To On Saturday

Friday 22.04.2011

Club

On the county front this weekend Mickey Donnelly’s Minors will travel to Enniskillen for the final of the Ulster Minor League Shield but it will be club matters in The Red Hand County that will once again dominate the thoughts of GAA fans across the county. There is a full list of All County League fixtures down for decision with some intriguing games but for me the highlight of the weekend in terms of club football will be the Feile Finals which are due to take place in Dunmoyle on Saturday afternoon. All of the teams that are competing are there on merit and any spectators going to watch the games will be treated to a real feast of football with some of the best under age talent in the county on display. These games are generally high scoring affairs and I will put my neck on the line and predict victory for Moortown in Grade One and Tattyreagh in Grade Two.

Last weekend saw the start of the league season for clubs and produced several surprising results particularly in Division Two. All three relegated teams from Division One last year lost their opening games at home as they struggled to come to terms with their new reality. This weekend’s fixtures pairs two of these teams against each other in what could well be the game of the weekend. Aghyaran and Kildress are well used to facing each other and indeed were involved in a couple of very close games in the relegation play offs last season. Both are pointless after their opening games and know that a further two points dropped this weekend could seriously affect their chances of an immediate return to senior football. Kildress are at home and that should give them some advantage but expect it to be quite a tussle as these old adversaries strive to kick start their season and gets their first points on the table.

In Division One the game of the day in my view is the match at Eglish where the home team will take on a Carrickmore side intent on bringing honours back to Pairc Colmcille. New boys Eglish had a very convincing win over Donaghmore last time out but will see this game as a greater measure of their progress. Both teams are very physical and it should be a real tough old fashioned game of football. This should suit Crrickmore who always relish such games and the result of this one could well be decided by the accuracy of the free takers. I would be surprised if it turns out to be a high scoring free flowing game of football but spectators present will certainly get value for money in terms of competitiveness and intensity.

There are some tasty battles listed for Division Three and Brackaville and Kileeshil is one game that is sure to be worth seeing but I reckon the match between Aghaloo and Brockagh will be the game with most riding on it on Saturday. Both these sides will expect to be competing for honours as the season reaches its climax so any advantage gained over a key rival could well prove the difference between promotion and another year of near misses. Aghaloo are always difficult to beat at home and would be confident of defeating any side in this league but they will find Brockagh tough opponents who, if they can keep their discipline, are well capable of causing a surprise or two.