Football

Tyrone GAA chiefs planning seven championship double-headers

Tyrone SFC champions Trillick will take on IFC winners Galbally in the last SFC tie first round tie this year.<br /> Pic Philip Walsh
Tyrone SFC champions Trillick will take on IFC winners Galbally in the last SFC tie first round tie this year.
Pic Philip Walsh
Tyrone SFC champions Trillick will take on IFC winners Galbally in the last SFC tie first round tie this year.
Pic Philip Walsh

TYRONE GAA chiefs are planning to stage seven Championship double-headers in the space of a week in the middle of next month.

However, they say they will be guided by medical advice at the time on the issue of permitting supporters from four clubs to attend at a single venue.

First round ties in the LCC Group Senior Championship will be preceded by IFC curtain-raisers, with 17 Championship games to be run off in the space of six days.

“We’ll keep an eye on the situation and take guidance from the advice coming from government and health authorities at the time, but we’re hoping that we will be able to accommodate supporters from all clubs,” said Martin Sludden, chairman of the Competitions Control Committee.

“We are working to a very tight timeframe, and these games would normally be spread out over two weeks but everything is different this year.”

A feast of football next month will see Tyrone SFC ties played on five consecutive days between August 13 and 17. Famed for its fiercely competitive nature, the Red Hand series, still played in a straight knock-out format, is widely regarded as one of the best in Ulster.

“It’s hectic stuff, and it all starts off with what I suppose is the big game of the first round of the Championship, Coalisland against Clonoe,” Sludden added. “We’re expecting and hoping that they will all be good competitive games.”

He praised the nine clubs that have taken on the task of staging Championship ties at a challenging time for sport. “I want to thank the chairmen of the host clubs for allowing us to use their facilities to host our Championship games, and all the stewards and other volunteers who continue to make it all possible.”

All the first round games are to be played off in mid-August, all to a finish on the day with no replays. The opening round concludes with the intriguing clash of county champions Trillick and Intermediate champions Galbally, who reached this year’s Ulster Club IFC final.

Meanwhile, the Leagues are to start on the weekend after next, and no clubs will be relegated this year. The measure was introduced due to an opportunity offered by the CCC for clubs to opt in or opt out of competitions in 2020 due to concerns over Covid-19 but all of the county’s 48 clubs have indicated that they will be participating in the Leagues.

The three divisions have each been sub-divided into two groups to reduce the amount of fixtures. The opening round will be played on Sunday July 19. “We have had no concerns back from any club, and it seems they’re all raring to go. Everybody is just happy to get the football started,” said Sludden.

LCC Group Tyrone Championship fixtures:

Thurs Aug 13:

SFC: Clonoe v Coalisland (Edendork, 7.15)

JFC: Drumquin v Fintona (Drumragh, 7.30)

Fri Aug 14:

IFC Aghaloo v Aghyaran (Omagh, 7.00)

SFC: Killyclogher v Carrickmore (Omagh, 8.30)

Sat Aug 15:

IFC: Greencastle v Stewartstown (Galbally, 2.00)

SFC: Loughmacrory v Dungannon (Galbally, 3.30)

IFC: Rock v Moortown (Coalisland, 5.45)

SFC: Ardboe v Donaghmore (Coalisland, 7.15)

Sun Aug 16:

IFC: Augher v Beragh (Loughmacory, 1.45)

SFC: Omagh v Dromore (Loughmacrory, 3.15)

IFC: Clogher v Edendork (Dungannon, 1.45)

SFC: Moy v Derrylaughan (Dungannon, 3.15)

IFC: Naomh Eoghan v Eglish (Carrickmore, 5.30)

SFC: Errigal Ciaran v Pomeroy (Carrickmore, 7.15)

Mon Aug 17:

IFC: Tattyreagh v Strabane (Omagh, 7.00)

SFC: Galbally v Trillick (Omagh, 8.30)

Tue Aug 18:

IFC: Owen Roes v Gortin (Naomh Eoghan, 7.15).