Football

Friendly fire expected as Moy prepare to do battle with Carrickmacross

Gavin McGilly and James Conlon after graduating from University of Ulster, Coleraine with a PGCE in primary education. The good friends will go toe-to-toe tomorrow when Moy, coached by McGilly, face Conlon's Carrickmacross. Picture by Margaret McLaughlin
Gavin McGilly and James Conlon after graduating from University of Ulster, Coleraine with a PGCE in primary education. The good friends will go toe-to-toe tomorrow when Moy, coached by McGilly, face Conlon's Carrickmacross. Picture by Margaret McLaugh Gavin McGilly and James Conlon after graduating from University of Ulster, Coleraine with a PGCE in primary education. The good friends will go toe-to-toe tomorrow when Moy, coached by McGilly, face Conlon's Carrickmacross. Picture by Margaret McLaughlin

AIB Ulster Intermediate Championship quarter-final: Tir na nOg, Moy (Tyrone) v Emmet’s, Carrickmacross (Monaghan) (tomorrow, 2.30pm, Healy Park)

IT will be a case of friends reunited at Healy Park tomorrow when Moy boss Gavin McGilly and Carrickmacross centre-back James Conlon go head-to-head in the quarter-final of the Ulster Club Intermediate Football Championship.

The pair lived together when they were getting their teaching qualifications in Coleraine a few years ago, but their friendship will have to be parked for an hour as a provincial semi-final place is at stake.

“We’d be good friends,” said McGilly.

“It’s fair to say there’s been a few messages flying about through the week. It’s all been a bit of craic but the serious business is out on the field.”

Conlon was a central figure as Carrickmacross romped to the Monaghan title, while Monaghan panellist Stephen Gollogly was also to the fore as comprehensive wins over Tyholland and then Aughnamullan ensured safe passage into Ulster.

It wasn’t quite so straightforward for the men from the Moy. They only had two points to spare against Augher before three points separated them and Cookstown.

A one-sided semi-final win over Gortin was then followed by a tough, tense battle in the final before they emerged with a one-point win over Derrylaughan.

That brought to an end 35 years of hurt as Moy landed a first Tyrone title since 1982, and the celebrations lasted for a few days before attention turned to the task at hand.

“It’s important that you do celebrate whenever you achieve success,” said McGilly.

“It was massively important for the club and everybody around the club that people did enjoy it, and especially the night the trophy came back to the Moy.

“The last team they won it, Sean and Colm Cavanagh’s dad was on the team, so it’s the first time this generation of people have experienced a championship win. You could see what it meant to everybody.

“But after a few days you realise there’s another competition to focus on now. This is the first time the Moy has ever represented Tyrone in an Ulster campaign so they’ll be keen to show they’re worthy of being crowned Tyrone champions.

“We know the size of the challenge with Carrickmacross. They got 14 points last year in Monaghan’s first division, so that tells you the sort of outfit you’re coming up against.”

And, despite a hectic week, tomorrow’s game can’t come soon enough for McGilly.

The Armagh man is the GAA development officer at St Mary’s University College, Belfast and is involved with the college’s football teams alongside Paddy Tally and Stephen Beattie.

On Monday night the Ranch freshers played Ulster University, then it was training with Moy on Tuesday, St Mary’s seniors in Ryan Cup action against UCD in Dublin on Wednesday night and then a final session with the club on Thursday.

“It’s been busy alright, but that’s what you want,” he added.

“The unity and togetherness of this Moy team is something else – you have the profile that comes with the three county lads [Sean/Colm Cavanagh and Harry Loughran], but everybody has had to up their performance.

“Now we just want to experience a win in Ulster because it’s something the club has never done. That has to be the initial goal.

“It’ll be a massive challenge for them, but that’s what football’s about. Carrickmacross are laced with players with county experience, they’re a formidable side, and it’ll take probably our best performance of the year so far if we are to get across the line.”