Tyrone Junior Hurling Final Preview

Thursday 08.09.2011

Club

Dungannon Eoghain Ruadh vs. Strabane Shamrock’s

Sunday 11^th September

At 1:30pm in Killyclogher

It may not be the final that many people would have expected, at the start of the season, but this Sunday afternoon offers Dungannon Eoghain Ruadh and Strabane Shamrock’s the opportunity to lift some much sought after silverware, when they contest the Junior hurling Championship Final, at Killyclogher.

Sunday’s junior showdown will be a rare final meeting between the teams and, Eoghain Ruadh will need no reminding of the last time they clashed with silverware, at stake. Shamrock’s winning a Tyrone Senior Hurling League title by a single point and the North Tyrone men would dearly love a repeat show this weekend.

Strabane will be making their third Tyrone championship outing this term having lost out to Carrickmore 1-21 to 0-9 in the senior semi final at Killyclogher before securing their junior final ticket on the back of a 2-21 to 1-8 success over Cappagh Gaels.

Shamrock’s go into Sunday’s decider in optimistic mood confident of causing an upset. After all Dungannon have lost a lot of players to work and study abroad, and they have spent the majority of the 2011 season introducing several of their underage riches into their senior set up. The Eoghain Ruadh youth system is undoubtedly the envy of the rest of the Hurling fraternity in Tyrone and once of age to compete at senior level it is relatively safe to say that Dungannon look set to be a dominant force for many a year to come.

The North Tyrone men will be looking to John O’Connor, Jason Patton, Conor Gallagher, Mark Kane and Malachy Quigg to lead by example because the

Shamrock’s attack has the ability to cause Dungannon problems. Peter O’Connor and Gerard Gilmore have the pace and an eye for the target, while Mark Devine who also doubles up as a dual star is set for a very busy 24 hours. The young forward is also due to feature for his football club Urney in the Intermediate football championship quarter final against Kildress in Augher on Saturday evening.

Dungannon will be looking to make an impression this weekend, as they are not featuring in the main event for the first time in years. In fact one has to go back to the mid 90’s to find the last time they failed to reach the Tyrone Senior Hurling final. Back then Killyclogher were a major force, but as with all good things – Dungannon are currently in a rebuilding process as evidenced from their 2-13 to 0-7 semi final defeat against NCC in Galbally.

Dungannon may be rebuilding but they still have the ability to make an impression in Sunday’s final. John Devlin is an exceptional goalkeeper who inspires confidence throughout his team. His two point blank saves at the start of the second half in the semi final against Naomh Colum Cille showing his worth to the team.

Ryan Winters and Tiernan Morgan man the central defensive positions, while in attack the energetic Cathal McErlean and Damien Casey are two prolific free takers who will be looking to inflict as much damage as possible. So in that regard Shamrock’s will need to keep the free count to a minimum.

Strabane will feel that this is a game they can win and while they may enter it as marginal favourites Dungannon have a point to prove and, the Eoghain Ruadh men could possibly have a sting or two left in their tail in what looks set to be a close encounter.