TYRONE’S first showpiece event of the season takes place on Sunday at Healy Park when the Donnelly Vauxhall Intermediate and Junior Championship finals combine in a double bill.
Edendork face Urney in the IFC decider, while it’s Aghaloo v Brackaville in the JFC final.
The St Malachy’s are seeking their first title in 30 years, while Urney are appearing in a third final in the last six seasons, and have lost the previous two.
Edendork’s county stars Darren McCurry and Niall Morgan give them a major scoring threat up front, while they have other key men in skipper Harry Og Conlan and exciting teenagers Conn Kilpatrick, Paul Donaghy and Stephen Corr.
They needed a replay to get past semi-final opponents Cookstown, while the St Columba’s confidently swept aside Galbally’s challenge.
Former Tyrone attacker Johnny Lafferty is the play-maker who makes the side tick, and is also a consistent finisher.
Captain Fergal McNulty, a former Donegal player, is capable of giving them the edge at midfield, and the input of Stephen Lafferty, Jamie McAleer and Ryan Henry will be important.
Edendork manager Liam Donnelly conceded that his side goes in with a deficit in terms of experience.
“As regards experience and know-how in Intermediate Championship finals, there’s nobody better than Urney,” he said.
“This is their third final in six years, and they have got a lot going for them. They beat Galbally, who were favourites, in the semi-final, so it’s going to be an interesting game.”
Urney’s joint manager Vincent Langan believes the pain of defeat in last year’s semi-final and two recent finals will drive his players on.
“We were in the semi-final last year, and I think actually they were more hurt from last year’s second half performance than we were from the final performances,” he said.
“We were up at half-time, but we never turned up in the second half, and Dungannon went on to win the championship.”
The curtain-raiser is the Junior Championship final between Brackaville and an Aghaloo side going for the double, having sealed the Division Three league title last weekend.
They are likely to be without midfielder Ruairi McGlone due to injury, but have a decent mix of youth and experience, with veteran Stephen Donnelly combining well up front with Tiarnan Donnelly and Brian McKenna.
Che O’Donnell has been Brackaville’s prolific attacker, while Paddy Gervin, Sean Day and skipper Sean McNally, Martin Gervin and Rian McHugh are others who have important roles to play.
