Junior Football Championship semi-final: Dunedin Connolly (Britain) v St Patrick’s, Rock (Tyrone) (tomorrow, the Athletic Grounds, 12.30pm)
Junior Football Championship semi-final: Dunedin Connolly (Britain) v St Patrick’s, Rock (Tyrone) (tomorrow, the Athletic Grounds, 12.30pm)Rock return to a familiar path tomorrow, contesting their third All-Ireland Club JFC semi-final, and while the journeys travelled in the past have taken them to magical heights, this one brings its own novelty factor.
Their opponents at the Athletic Grounds in Armagh are the British champions Dunedin Connolly’s from Edinburgh, shock quarter-final winners over Laois side Rosenallis.
Surprise packets and an unknown quantity, the Scottish challengers will cross the Irish Sea with a ferocious intent to take another big scalp and write another glorious chapter in a compelling story.
The Tyrone men will not take their opponents lightly as they target a second All-Ireland final appearance to add to their unsuccessful Croke Park decider in 2008.
Rock have a handful of survivors from that Ulster title winning team of almost a decade ago, and their experience of days like this will be a key factor, not to mention the large contingent who tasted All-Ireland semi-final action two years ago.
Skipper Tommy Bloomer and former Tyrone star Ciaran Gourley are among those who will be making their third appearance on the All-Ireland stage and they will approach this latest challenge with an undiluted fervour and will to succeed.
Top scorer Aidan McGarrity is a key figure up front, and his partnership with Conor McCreesh in a two-man inside line could provide the formula for a triumphant afternoon for the St Patrick’s.
“There is a novelty aspect, but at the same time they’re coming with a bit of a pedigree in that they have already turned over the Laois champions,” said Rock manager Adrian Nugent.
“They have got a certain amount of quality about them, they have a number of players who have played for Mayo seniors and juniors down through the years.
“And they have a few Tyrone men, from Owen Roes and Strabane, and a young fellow from Cookstown playing for them.
A handful of players who appeared in that Croke Park decider have their hearts set on a return to GAA Headquarters.
“The likes of Ciaran Gourley is an important man, he has been there for a long time,” said Nugent.
“Aidan Girvan is home again. He went back to Australia after the Ulster final, and to have him back is a big boost.
“And we have lads coming to an age that we can drop them into this competition, lads who were in development squads and weren’t eligible to play last year.”
Dunedin completed the Scottish domestic double and lifted the All-Britain title for only the second time late last year, before going on to shock Laois and Leinster champions Rosenallis in the All-Ireland quarter-final.
Led by manager Cormac O’Gara, they are a tightly knit group of players who have grown in stature as their championship odyssey progressed.
Backboned by a strong contingent of Mayo natives, including a couple who have represented their county, they play a direct brand of football which has served them well thus far.
Veteran Frank Molloy has played senior football for Mayo, while Conor Horan is a former county U21 player. Others from the western county who are key members of the Dunedin side include Brendan Parsons, Sean Malee, Daniel Loftus and Damien Keane.
Rock still have that elusive All-Ireland title in their sights.
In 2008 they lost to Canovee in the All-Ireland final at Croke Park, while in 2015 they fell at the semi-final stage.
After a 0-10 to 1-7 draw at Ballinasloe, they lost the replay to Kerry side Brosna, who grabbed a late goal to win by 1-8 to 0-7.
It’s all about getting over the line tomorrow, and keeping the dream alive.