CM Precision Components Ulster Club MF quarter-final: Kilrea Pearse’s (Derry) v Naomh Conall (Donegal) (tomorrow, St Paul’s, Shaws Road, 1pm)
Kilrea came through a cracker of a preliminary round match against Crossmaglen and now clash with an equally talented side from Glenties in the quarter finals tomorrow in what could be another close encounter.
However, there are worries in the Kilrea camp about the fitness of their strong full-back Gearoid McLaughlin, who damaged a quad muscle against Cross, just before half-time. Despite the injury, the lively number three continued to play a major role in the defeat of the defending champions but now is on the ‘highly doubtful’ list for tomorrow’s quarter-final.
“I don’t think Gearoid will be playing,” said manager Vincent McKenna.
“Possibly, he shouldn’t have carried on against Cross after getting the injury but we needed him. We certainly need him against Glenties too, but it is very doubtful if he will be able to play.”
Back in the panel, after being inactive for some time because of a shoulder injury, is Sean Convery, which is good news for the Derry champions. He may be able to play some part in the game, if required.
“We are up against it again as, I believe, that the Glenties team are serious players, with four players from the Donegal team that won the Ulster minor championship this year included.
“I suppose it is to our advantage that we have had a game in the competition already and that we overcame last year’s winners (Crossmaglen) but Naomh Conaill came through a tough Donegal championship and will be prepared for us,” added McKenna.
The Glenties team does include a number of excellent players, none more so than midfielder Owen McGettigan, centre-back and captain Logan Quinn plus Ciarán Gallagher.
Martin Shankley, chairman of the Glenties Minor Board, is not too keen to name prominent players in the team.
“It is a tight-knit well-balanced outfit. We don’t regard any of the players as the team’s stars, even though we have four players from the Donegal Ulster-minor winning team. They all work hard for each other,” he said.
Star of the Kilrea win against Crossmaglen was winger Paddy Quigg, who roved all over the attack and finished with a game high 1-6. No doubt, tomorrow’s opposition will have noted that. There were other stars, too, like Larry Kielt, Gearoid McLaughlin and Niall Johnston.
Naomh Conaill won the league and championship double in Donegal, beating St Eunan’s with a late goal to win the championship by a point, in October.
A feature of the set-up is that manager John O’Malley and the selectors are current senior club players, some only a few years older than their minor charges.
