Paul Mc Girr Ulster U16 Club Champions Tournament

Thursday 31.10.2019

Club

Clan Na Gael (Armagh) v O’Donovan Rossa (Antrim)

Armagh champions Clan Na Gael will face Antrim’s O’Donovan Rossa on Saturday morning at 12:00 in a battle for a place in next weekend’s Paul McGirr Ulster U16 Club Champions Tournament final. Clan Na Gael is a club with Ulster pedigree and Laurence McGuinness’s young charges are keen to add their name to the proud Lurgan club’s roll of honour.

Centre forward Matthew Lennon was the star of the show in their comprehensive quarter final defeat of Newtownbutler and his battle with Eoin Treanor will be key to the outcome of this tie.  They have a very strong half back line of Callum O’Neill, Brendan O’Hagan and the robust Michael McConville all of whom are well capable of getting their names on the scoresheet but they will be looking for an improved performance from a midfield pairing that struggled somewhat against Newtownbutler.  Wing forward Odhran Mc Givern is another scoring threat for the Armagh champions who play an exciting brand of football and have a keen eye for goal.

Manager McGuiness is determined that his side make the best of this weekend’s opportunity. “The lads are really looking forward to Saturday playing in the biggest cup competition at their level.  We are just going to go out and really have a go. We have nothing to lose but plenty to gain experience wise.  The lads have really enjoyed the experience and have been turning out for training buzzing, embracing the higher level of competition and having this great opportunity to get to an Ulster final.  We know Rossa will be tough opponents and probably slight favourites, but we will just go out and hopefully play the football the Clans way and enjoy the occasion.’

Rossa reached the final of this prestigious competition in 2015 and will be keen to put a big performance in again this Saturday to get back to that stage.  Jointly managed by Bill Kelly and Deaglan White the West Belfast lads came through a bruising encounter by the minimum margin against Monaghan champions Carrickmacross in the quarter final and they will be hoping the lessons they learned in that battle will stand to them as they face the challenge of the Armagh champions.  The defensive and counter attacking style of football they play may suit as they try to stymie a talented Clan Na Gael attack.  Diarmaid Rogan and Patrck Moyes drop back from their attacking positions to shore up their defence where captain Conor Boyle and Matthew McKernan feature strongly in their counter attacking game.  They have a very strong midfield partnership in Ruairi Murray and Ben MacAuley that could hold the key to victory in this semi final. Liam Carr’s ball winning ability is the fulcrum of their attack where Barra McCafferty and Michael McDaid provide the scoring threat.

Rossa’s Bill Kelly was hoping his side would make the best of the occasion. “Going into the competition we wanted to do ourselves and our county proud. Now we are in the semi final the mindset hasn’t really changed.  We know that semi finals can be cagey affairs with teams more afraid of getting beat than going for the win.  Hopefully we won’t fall into that trap.  Our experience of the competition has exceeded expectations.  Hopefully come Saturday evening we have another even greater experience to look forward to in a week’s time.”

The tie is very hard to call. Rossa will be hoping their defensive game can nullify a talented Clan Na Gael attack and their strength in midfield might tip the tie in their favour but Lennon and his team mates certainly know where the posts are and won’t make it easy for the Antrim champions.  The game looks to be a close call that may take extra time to decide.