Donnelly Vauxhall Tyrone SFC semi-final Coalisland v Clonoe (tomorrow, Dungannon, 3.45pm)
Clonoe’s O’Neill Cup odyssey continues, and if they manage to beat Coalisland in tomorrow’s Donnelly Vauxhall Tyrone SFC semi-final replay, they’ll be playing championship football on six successive weekends.
The sides finished level on 0-10 apiece last Sunday, and extra-time may be required at O’Neill Park in Dungannon to decide who goes forward to meet Killyclogher in the county final tomorrow week.
These derby rivals gave it everything in a compelling tussle last week, and while it was no classic, a big crowd at Edendork got more than their money’s worth.
Danny McNulty and Coalisland’s Stephen McNally traded stoppage time points to set up a re-match which is sure to draw another big attendance.
Coalisland have received a boost with the reinstatement of experienced defender Peter Donnelly to their squad.
The former Tyrone player has been cleared to play after having a red card rescinded.
Video evidence was used to exonerate the Fianna man, who was sent off on a straight red card after just 11 minutes of the drawn game.
Coalisland will draw immense confidence from the manner in which they battled to a draw while playing with just 14 men for most of the game. Donnelly is certain to go straight back into the starting line-up.
Meanwhile, Clonoe could be without one of their most seasoned campaigners, centre-back Stephen McNulty, who picked up an ankle injury last week.
While last weekend’s encounter failed to provide a feast of open, flowing football, a classic, but tense, dogged encounter was compelling from start to finish.
And when the derby rivalry is renewed tomorrow, another absorbing encounter is virtually certain.
The drawn semi-final has had a significant knock-on effect on other championship games in the county, with the intermediate and junior finals both affected.
The Donnelly Vauxhall Intermediate Championship final between Pomeroy and Derrylaughan has been postponed, and the junior final involving Tattyreagh and Rock has been moved from Healy Park to Dungannon.
It will be played at O’Neill Park as a curtain-raiser to the Clonoe-Coalisland replay.
The IFC final has been put back a week, and will be the curtain-raiser to the senior final at Healy Park on October 9.
