PLAYING in the Ulster Club Minor Football tournament is an experience players greatly appreciate and look forward to.
Ciarán McAleer never got that chance. but he is experiencing the enjoyment as a manager this year. He is boss of the Carrickmore team who will face Kilrea Pearse's in the semi-final on Monday, but regrets he never got the chance in his playing days of taking part in the popular competition.
“I’d have loved to have played in the competition but never got the chance. When Carrickmore last won the Tyrone championship, in 2004, I wasn’t a minor so I missed out. As manager it is different,” McAleer said.
McAleer is, of course, enthusiastic about the chance that his charges have got but maintains that his team goes into the semi-final against Kilrea as ‘major underdogs’. He points to the fact Kilrea had two games at St Paul’s so far, while Carrickmore’s win over Corduff was at Woodlands.
No doubt, the Carmen have noted the name of Paddy Quigg as the Kilrea sharpshooter has netted 2-13 (six frees) in the Pearse’s run to the semi-finals. The wily winger roves all over the attack in his hunt for the ball.
“I try to get on the ball as much as possible,” said the St Patrick’s, Maghera player.
“Larry [Kielt] and I share the free-taking, he takes the long ones and I take the shorter ones, so that helps the scoring tally. We have come through two very tough games against Crossmaglen and Glenties. It is great to be at this stage of the competition but we have another big hurdle ahead. I know some of the Carrickmore players from college games and they are good. It won’t be easy but hopefully we can get through to the final.”
Derry’s success rate in this competition is amazing, as 15 of the 34 finals to date have been won by the Oak Leaf county champions. Paddy Quigg explains why: “The standard at minor level in Derry is very high. Every club is competitive and the club comes first with players. Maghera’s four in-a-row was fantastic and every other club aims at winning the Ulster title, after first, of course, winning the county title.”
Kilrea full-back and captain Gearóid McLoughlin didn’t start against Glenties because of an injury, but helped turn the game around when going in at half-time: “Gearóid coming on was a major boost for us. His presence made a big difference as he is a great captain who calms the team down. Hopefully, he will be fit for the semi-final,” says Quigg.
Carrickmore are hoping that Conor Loughran will be fully recovered from a hamstring problem that meant he couldn’t start the quarter-final against Corduff. He did play the closing 10 minutes and helped the Tyrone champions over the line.
“Conor is one of our leaders and he gives the team a lot of confidence. We are hopeful that he will be fit but it will be a last minute decision whether or not he starts,” said McAleer.
Despite the latter’s comments that Carrickmore are major underdogs, this could be a teak tough game.
