Football

Sidelines

armaghs james donnelly pic seamus loughran
armaghs james donnelly pic seamus loughran armaghs james donnelly pic seamus loughran

Page 86

Armagh Intermediate Football Championship final

Killeavy v Silverbridge

(tomorrow, Athletic Grounds, 3pm)

THESE two clubs will return to the senior ranks next year on account of their league form, but the carrot of going up as Intermediate Championship winners is a real driving force for both.

Whoever progresses will also believe that a strong run in Ulster is not beyond them.

That was certainly the case for a lot of the ‘Bridge players when they made it to the Ulster Minor final in January 2014 only to lose out to Watty Graham’s.

Current manager Joe Crawley was over that side and he has successfully brought through players like Jarly Og Burns, Ronan Reel and Pauric Keating.

Killeavy too are finally seeing the advantage of some recent strong minor teams with players like Miceal McNamee, county man Ciaron O’Hanlon and impressive defender Jamie Cosgrove giving them a very solid basis.

The winning and losing of the game though could come down to the midfield battle of Killeavy’s James Donnelly and Silverbridge’s Peter Carragher.

The pair were in the middle together when Armagh won the All-Ireland minor title in 2009 but, despite brilliant club form, neither has been able to make it at senior level, although injuries have played a major role in that.

Verdict: Killeavy

Antrim Intermediate Football Championship final

Dunloy v St Brigid’s

(tomorrow, Ahoghill, 3.15pm)

IT may already be a year to remember for Dunloy, but this is a competition they will really have targeted at the start of the season having lost the last two finals.

Their determination was evident in the semi-final win over Moneyglass with Conor McKinley nailing the winning free deep into injury time.

Manager Dominic Dillon will be hoping that McKinley and the other dual players have recovered from last weekend’s hurling loss to Slaughtneil.

St Brigid’s won their first two games by a combined five points but they cut loose in a 10-point semi-final win over All Saint’s.

John Blayney, son of Down legend Greg, grabbed two of those with Jack Dowling and Ruairi O’Neill scoring the others.

Verdict: St Brigid’s

Derry Junior Football Championship final

Limavady Wolfhounds v Doire Trasna

(today, Celtic Park, 4.30pm)

DOIRE Trasna enter this final as league champions but they were given a scare in the semi-final as they needed two games to get past Ogra Colmcille.

Paul Simpson’s side were convincing in the replay though with Colin Murray posting 2-3 in the 2-11 to 1-5 success.

Mickey Boyle’s Limavady side are aiming for their first title since 2003 and their fourth overall.

They had to come through the Qualifiers after their loss to today’s opponents, but they have built up some steam with wins over Doire Colmcille, Sean Dolan’s and Glack.

Verdict: Doire Trasna

Donegal Junior Football Championship final

Red Hugh’s v Naomh Colmcille

(today, O’Donnell Park, 4pm)

BOTH these sides won their respective semi-finals 0-8 to 0-5 and another tight, low-scoring encounter is expected here.

Red Hugh’s last won this title in 1981 but many of the players will still be haunted by the replay final loss to Naomh Ultan two years ago.

Naomh Colmcille, who play a division below their opponents, started well in the semi-final win over Letterkenny Gaels, but they will need to improve if they are to cause an upset.

Verdict: Red Hugh’s

Page 87

Ulster Intermediate Football Championship first round

Shercock (Cavan) v Newbridge (Derry)

(tomorrow, Kingspan Breffni, 2.30pm)

SHERCOCK had to upset the odds to come out of Cavan and they’ll have to do the same to overcome Paddy Bradley’s Newbridge outfit.

They may be the ‘home’ team at Kingspan Breffni, but you can still get a tempting 3/1 on Francis McPhillips’s side to set up a quarter-final date with Belcoo.

It’s understandable though. In the Cavan group stages, Shercock finished eighth out of 14 teams and needed a play-off win over Denn to make it to the quarter-finals.

They battled to the final, beating Laragh United by a point and Drumgoon by three, but they saved the best to last as they defeated Ballyhaise 2-11 to 1-9.

Niall Clerkin, who scored 1-3 in the semi-final, and Lee Clarke scored the goals while Killian Clarke opted to put an injury-time penalty over the bar.

Newbridge were strongly fancied to come out of Derry this year and Ballymaguigan, in the quarter-final, were the only side to give them a proper scare.

They have suffered a major blow in the lead up to the game as Nathan Rocks has been ruled out after suffering a cruciate injury. Paddy McGuigan (ankle) and James Gilmore (knee) are also doubtful.

Despite those losses, they are a very good side all over the pitch and if they are serious about giving Ulster a proper rattle, they need to put in a commanding performance here..

Verdict: Newbridge

Ulster Junior Football Championship first round

Ballymachugh (Cavan) v Patrick Sarsfields (Antrim)

(tomorrow, Kingspan Breffni, 12.45pm)

PATRICK Sarsfields saw their Ulster Intermediate hurling hopes come to an end following a narrow loss to Lavey last Sunday, so all attention turns to football now.

Tony Smyth’s side were most impressive en-route to the Antrim title and accumulated eight goals in four games.

Darragh McGuinness got the most important of those in the county final as they defeated St Patrick’s 1-10 to 0-10.

They have 13 dual players between the two squads so Smyth’s main goal this week will have been to raise spirits after the narrow loss to Lavey.

Ballymachugh collected just their second Junior title this year as they edged a close battle with Drumalee.

It was celebrated wildly as the club had lost the two previous finals, and the pressure is really off Stephen Baxter’s side. The fact that they secured their Division Two status with a three-point win over Laragh in the meantime means that they will be in very positive form tomorrow. It may not be enough though.

Verdict: Patrick Sarsfields