Football

Eoghan Rua out their break their duck on provincial stage

Che O'Donnell has been prolific in attack for Eoghan Rua this year  
Che O'Donnell has been prolific in attack for Eoghan Rua this year   Che O'Donnell has been prolific in attack for Eoghan Rua this year  

Ulster Club Junior Football Championship quarter-final: Brackaville Eoghan Rua (Tyrone) v Faughanvale (Derry) (Sunday, Healy Park, Omagh, 12.45pm)

BRACKAVILLE are four-time junior champions in Tyrone, but have yet to taste success on the provincial stage. They came close to breaking their duck in 2012, losing in the final to Armagh champions An Port Mór by 2-9 to 0-11.

With a significant turnover in personnel since 2010, their one-point victory against Division Three league winners Aghaloo in the Tyrone final was viewed as an upset, despite overcoming their other championship opponents by at least six points – a first round 2-17 to 1-11 win against Glenelly in the opening round was followed by a 4-6 to 1-9 win against Newtownstewart and a nine-point victory against Drumquin in the semi-final.

Teenager Seán Day shined around the middle third in the final and late scores from Joe Rafferty and Paul O’Neill ensured Eoghan Rua held on in the face of a late Aghaloo onslaught. Che O’Donnell has also been prolific in attack and coach Ciarán Gillis has a decent blend of youth and experience to draw upon.

Derry champions Faughanvale won their first championship in 16 years with a 2-9 to 1-5 victory against Drum in a replay a fortnight ago. Faughanvale laid the platform for their seven-point victory with an early scoring spree, taking a 10-point lead after only 11 minutes.

It amounted to the 'Vale’s third title of the season, having already captured the Neal Carlin Cup and Division Three title. Having completed a clean sweep of domestic titles, player manager Joe Gray is turning his attention to a clash against the Tyrone champions, but may be without the services of Conor O’Hara, who was forced off against Drum with a hamstring injury.