Football

Ballycran out for revenge BURT AND SETANTA CLASH IN DONEGAL FINAL

BALLYCRAN will be thirsting for revenge in tomorrow's Morgan Fuels Down Senior Hurling Championship semi-final against Portaferry at Ballygalget (throw-in 5.30pm).

Last year, Portaferry won the battle of the Ards Peninsula to lift the title but this year, if league form is any barometer, the result will be reversed.

However, Ballycran boss Simon Wilson is at pains to point out that what happened in the past will be of no consequence tomorrow.

"What happened last year is history. We will go into the game with a different approach. It's all about the team and how they perform on the day. Every single player has done his bit in training.

I can't fault any one of them," said Wilson.

The St Joseph's side are fourth in the Antrim League and playing well, but their manager isn't getting carried away as he states: "What happens in the league doesn't count. It's what we do on Sunday that's impor tant.

People say we're going into the match with a cocky attitude.

But that's nonsense. How can we be cocky when we are facing quality players such as Paul Braniff and John Convery?"

Meanwhile, Philly Byers, who manages Portaferry, along with Marty Mallon and Eamon Adair, agrees with his counterpart Wilson as he says: "It's the championship and form goes out the window. Although we're down near the bottom of the Antrim League, we're beginning to get back into form.

We're working hard in training and heading in the right direction.

The boys are buzzing. "We recently ran All-Ireland champions Loughgiel close and we're quietly confident of performing well on Sunday.

"Also, in recent months, we have had a lot of injuries but that situation is clearing up."

Nonetheless, Portaferry will depend a lot on full-forward and county star Paul Braniff.

He's their top marksman although he will be seeking help in the scoring stakes from skipper Conor Mageean. Byers says of Braniff: "Paul is a great lad, a modest lad and he's in fine form at present. He's doing lots of hours training on his own, as well as with the team."

Other big players for the blue-and-yellows will be defender Conor O'Prey along with county players Aaron O'Prey (left), Matthew Conlon and Andy Savage.

However, Ballycran too have their share of men who have worn the red and black with distinction this season, men such as Michael Ennit, James Coyle and Conor Woods, the Hughes brothers, Michael and Patrick, Cormac and Patrick Flynn as well as Scott and Brett Nicholson.

And despite losing Gregory Hughes, Sean Ennis and Brendan McGourty to injury, the McKenna Road team will be boosted by the super-experienced James Henry Hughes who has given almost 20 years service to Ballycran.

Thus the battle of the Ards Peninsula will be hard to call with both managers agreeing that the team that wants it most will almost certainly get it.

A further ingredient into the melting pot of uncertainty is the weather. Heavy rain and strong winds are predicted, thus forecasting who will make it to the Down county final is even more of a lottery.

It's a battle of experience and youth as Burt and setanta clash in their 22th county final at O'Donnell Park, Letterkenny at 3pm this afternoon, writes Gerry Maguire. these tir Chonaill hurling giants have met on 21 occasions since 1973 with Burt edging matters on 11 titles to 10 for the men from Crossroads.

Burt are slight favourites and, apart from county regulars like Chris, Ronan and Enda McDermott, they can also call on outstanding ex-county stars like Niall Campbell, Mickey McCann and Ciaran Dowds to power their efforts.

Youthful setanta who beat Burt earlier in the year are inspired by the classy Danny Cullen (above), Kevin Campbell, Justin Browne and Michael McGee.