Ulster Senior Club Championship semi-final: St Macartan's (Tyrone) v Donaghmoyne (Monaghan)
(Tomorrow, Clogher, 12noon)
ULSTER champions St Macartan's face the ultimate task in defending their provincial crown against 10 time winners Donaghmoyne.
A repeat of last year’s final, which saw St Macartan's clinch a first ever Ulster title in their 25th year, this has the makings of being a real ding-dong battle as they aim to book their place in the decider against Glenfin on Sunday November 4.
When they met in the final last year, they produced an epic encounter. St Macaratans stormed the first half to lead 3-3 to 0-1 but Donaghmoyne produced an unanswered 1-7 in the second half to claw themselves right back into it, determined not to give up their Ulster and All-Ireland titles without a fight before St Macartan's managed to hang on and eke out a 3-4 to 1-8 victory.
Donaghmoyne have always been able to regain the Ulster senior title after losing it the year before. Indeed, they are going for an incredible 15th consecutive final appearance following on from their 16th successive Monaghan championship crown during the summer. It is a fact that captain Cora Courtney thinks is unbeknown to many of her team-mates with instead that feeling of loss after defeat in last year’s final driving them on.
“I didn't realise how many finals we have been,”admitted the three times All Star. “We will be aiming to get into a 15th final which is an amazing achievement. I would say not too many of us realise that.
“I know this will be our toughest test yet to get into that final but if we bring a high workrate with us we are in with a chance.
“We are facing the Ulster champions who will be favourites but we hope our training will pay off and get us into another final. Im sure they will do everything they can to keep their title.
“Sometimes defeat stays with you more than a win and last year is very fresh in our memory. We don't talk about how we played or they played, all that has been mentioned a few times this few weeks is 'how did you feel afterwards'.
“That defeat has definitely brought new life into our players as there seems to be a hunger in the team and Annmarie [Burns] has done great work in trying to get the best out of us at training. 100 per cent we are in a better position than last year. Fitness levels are up, no injuries and everyone seems to be enjoying themselves and playing good football which has brought a confidence into the team.”
But while Donaghmoyne’s memories of last year are real vivid in their strive for success this year, it’s a different picture that is painted by St Macartan's captain Joline Donnelly.
“Last year was great and is a memory that will live on for years to come. But we drew a line under that success at the start of the season,” she explained.
“We stayed focused on getting out of Tyrone. We feel no more pressure going into the game especially as a lot of people tipped us to get beaten by Carrickcruppen in the first round of Ulster this year.
“It shows that last year counts for nothing going into Ulster this year. It's a new year and we can only play our best and hope that will be enough to get us over the line.”
For both sides the stakes are high and while St Macartan's had a 3-12 to 0-10 win over Carrickcruppen in the quarter-finals with Cathy Maguire hitting 3-4, Donnelly says repeating that performance will not be enough. Donaghmoyne had a 5-16 to 1-6 win over St Paul’s with Cora Courtney scoring four of her side’s goals as seven different players got on the scoresheet.
“We know we didn’t preform to our best in the full 60 minutes which wouldn’t be good enough to beat a team like Donaghmoyne.
“We know the quality and experience of the Donaghmoyne side.
“We know that we will need to put in a huge performance if we are to come out on the right side again this year,” added Donnelly.
“They have quality players all over the pitch and now have an inform Catriona McConnell back playing again.
“There is a lot at stake for both teams we both would like to get into an Ulster final of course.
“We will be focusing on ourselves and our own performance going into the game, and hopefully we will play the game to the best of our ability.”
Ulster Intermediate Club Championship semi-finals: Arva-Killeshandra (Cavan) v Kinawley (Fermanagh), Emmet Og (Monaghan) v Donaghmore (Tyrone)
FERMANAGH champions Kinawley are hoping to reach their second Ulster final in three years when they face Cavan counterparts Arva-Killeshandra in tomorrow’s intermediate semi-final in Arva (2pm).
Kinawley lost to Armagh’s Shane O’Neills in the 2016 decider but with that Ulster championship experience, including in 2013 also, they will eager to make it count.
This is their second game on the road having beaten St Brigid’s Antrim in the quarter-finals 4-9 to 0-13.
Arva-Killeshandra defeated Dromintee in their quarter-final recording a 3-15 to 3-8 victory while they also featured in the preliminary round defeating Naomh Conaill (Donegal) 1-15 to 1-2.
The other semi-final sees Monaghan champions Emmett Og Aghabog welcome Tyrone side Donaghmore tomorrow (Aghabog, 2pm). Donaghmore came through a quarter-final tussle with Ballinascreen (Derry) with just a goal between them, 207 to 1-7 while Aghabog’s goals – four of them – were the difference in their 4-11 to 0-11 – victory over Down champions Saval.
Ulster Junior Club Championship semi-finals: Scotstown (Monaghan) v Lavey (Cavan), Trillick (Tyrone) v Faughanvale (Derry)
THE Ulster Junior Club Championship is always a difficult one to predict and on the day, any one of the remaining four teams in this year’s competition could prevail and book their spot in next month’s final.
They all have some experience of playing in Ulster although reaching a semi-final is novel for the majority. Monaghan champions Scotstown are that exception and have been here before, albeit back in 2010.
They welcome Cavan champions Lavey to St Mary’s Park this afternoon (2pm) having defeated Fanad after extra-time in the quarter-final 0-14 to 1-10 while Lavey defeated Antrim champions St Paul II 1-9 to 1-4. Trillick, who may just edge the favourites tag for provincial success, host Derry champions Faughanvale today (2pm).
Trillick reached the junior quarter-finals in 2015 while Faughanvale were last here in 2014.
Trillick saw off Derrygonnelly impressively winning 6-15 to 1-5 while Faughanvale came through a contest with Dundrum (Down) 2-13 to 3-7.
Fixtures
Today
Ulster Junior Club Championship semi-final: Scotstown (Monaghan) v Lavey (Cavan) (Scotstown, 2pm) Trillick (Tyrone) v Faughanvale (Derry) (Trillick, 2pm)
Tomorrow
Ulster Senior Club Championship semi-final: St. Macartans (Tyrone) v Donaghmoyne (Monaghan) (Clogher, 12noon)
Ulster Intermediate Club Championship semi-final: Arva-Killeshandra (Cavan) v Kinawley (Fermanagh) (Arva, 2pm), Emmett Og (Monaghan) v Donaghmore (Tyrone) (Aghabog, 2pm)
