Football

Scene set for another Tyrone final shoot-out

 Killyclogher’s Martin Swift and Coalisland’s Cathaoir Quinn challenge for the ball in the drawn Tyrone SFC final on October 9.  Picture by Philip Walsh
 Killyclogher’s Martin Swift and Coalisland’s Cathaoir Quinn challenge for the ball in the drawn Tyrone SFC final on October 9.  Picture by Philip Walsh  Killyclogher’s Martin Swift and Coalisland’s Cathaoir Quinn challenge for the ball in the drawn Tyrone SFC final on October 9.  Picture by Philip Walsh

Donnelly Vauxhall Tyrone Senior Football Championship final replay: Coalisland Na Fianna v St Mary’s, Killyclogher (tonight, Healy Park, 7.30pm) 

FOR the third successive weekend, Killyclogher and Coalisland are preparing for a county final, but this time they must get the job done.

A thrilling draw was followed by a postponement due to a waterlogged pitch, but this evening, the Healy Park surface is good to go and the Donnelly Vauxhall Tyrone SFC final replay goes ahead.

The preparations have been less than ideal for the players involved, and further uncertainty has been added by a contingency plan that allows for a further postponement should the heavens open above Omagh again.

Should the venue once more fail a pitch inspection, the game will be deferred until tomorrow afternoon and switched to Carrickmore. However, the weather forecast is favourable and the scene is set.

If the second instalment produces half the drama of the first, then it will be unmissable.

Healy Park is poised to welcome another big crowd for a mighty battle for the O’Neill Cup, and predictions seem futile. It’s just too close to call.

They were level 11 times on October 9, the final equaliser, off the fist of Killyclogher teenager Nathan Donnelly deep into stoppage time, bringing a memorable contest to a fair conclusion.

The St Mary’s had played the last 25 minutes with 14 men, coming from behind to avoid a second successive county final defeat.

Defender Gary Wallace, who sat out that gripping second half spell, faces no ban and returns for the rematch, but they are likely to be without injured midfielder Niall McFadden.

Killyclogher have a number of options in terms of midfield cover, but it’s likely Conall McCann will drop into the central area to partner youngster Feargal Meenagh, who has been a revelation this season.

St Mary’s manager Dominic Corrigan is also hoping defender Dermot Carlin will be fit to play some part, having missed the entire championship to date due to a back injury.

Coalisland have lost attacker Philip Toner to a serious knee injury, but both sides have strong benches which will see them compensate, as evidenced by the impact in the drawn game of substitutes Simon O’Neill, who kicked three points, and Coalisland’s Peter McGahan, scorer of two late gems.

McGahan did enough to warrant a starting spot, but Fianna manager John McKeever may consider him a valuable impact sub and hand the number 10 shirt to Cormac O’Hagan.

Much anticipation surrounds the match-up involving Mark Bradley and Michael McKernan. Team-mates in last season’s All-Ireland winning Tyrone U21 side, they had a terrific tussle last time, emerging with honours just about even, although Bradley did slip his Coalisland opponent for a couple of tidy points from play.

The impact of Padraig Hampsey will once again be crucial to Coalisland’s efforts to land a tenth title and a first since 2010. 

His driving runs from midfield were just one feature of a stand-out display in the drawn game.

If Killyclogher wing-back Tiernan McCann can make more of his opportunities to raid from deep, his side’s chances of winning the O’Neill Cup for the second time will improve.

This long-awaited replay could well require extra-time, and the outcome is likely to hinge on a touch of good fortune or a flash of inspiration rather than a play contrived on the training field.