Two of Tyrone’s most powerful forces will collide this evening as champions Trillick meet the challenge of Killyclogher in a Senior Football Championship quarter-final tie.
The O’Neill Cup holders go into the Healy Park eliminator with the long-term aim of becoming the first club to retain the title since 2005.
But the magnitude of the immediate threat to their reign demands a singular and steely focus on tonight’s test.
Killyclogher have appeared in three of the last five county finals, and they have freshened up their resources with the integration of some exciting young talents.
“They’re a blend of young players coming through and very good experienced players, a very similar team to ourselves in may regards,” said Trillick manager Nigel Seaney.
“So it will be a tough battle between the two teams. We have always had tough battles with them in my time anyway, and I don’t see anything changing.”
Trillick’s 1-9 to 0-7 first round win over Galbally was achieved in a less than convincing fashion, with six Lee Brennan scores seeing them through to the last four.
The former Tyrone attacker may have to engage in a shoot-out with current Red Hand star Mark Bradley, scorer of 1-8 in Killyclogher’s 2-13 to 2-10 defeat of Carrickmore.
Newcomers John Rafferty, Oisin McCann and Mark Hayes have benefited from the guidance of experienced St Mary’s campaigners Danny Gorman, Martin Swift, Tiernan McCann and Conall McCann in a renewal of the Ballinamullan challenge.
“There are lads coming in who wouldn’t have that much senior experience, and they will benefit from experiences like playing Carrickmore at Healy Park,” said Killyclogher manager Mark Henry.
“It’s transition, but we have a good core of experienced players as well. We have a nice mix and we have plenty of work to do.”
But they are facing an experienced Trillick side that has won the title twice in the past five years.
Ruairi Kelly and Stephen O’Donnell are rocks in defence, and they hope to welcome back skipper Daire Gallagher, who missed the first round through injury.
Rory Brennan, Richie Donnelly and Mattie Donnelly provide the star quality that the St Macartan’s will expect to give them an edge in vital areas, but Henry expects his side to have gained significant benefits from a testing clash with Carrickmore.
“I would hope that the physical nature of the battle, the fact that we had to dig it out, that those things stand to us, and obviously that we improve in terms of our own ball playing as well.
“We had to dig deep two or three times over the course of the game and put a bit of daylight between the two teams.”
The remaining quarter-finals will all take place over the weekend, with extra-time and penalties to be used if necessary to produce winners.
Coalisland face Derrylaughan tomorrow, while on Sunday, last year’s beaten finalists Errigal Ciaran tackle Dromore and Dungannon take on Ardboe.
