Hurling & Camogie

Middletown have the edge over Lisbellaw in AIB Ulster Club SHC

AIB Ulster Club Senior Hurling Championship first round: Middletown (Armagh) v Lisbellaw (Fermanagh) (tomorrow, Crossmaglen, 2.30pm)

WHEN it comes to managerial workloads, there are few in Ulster who have a heavier one than Middletown manager Arthur Hughes.

For the second season in a row, Hughes has taken care of not only the club’s senior hurlers, but the footballers too. For the second season in a row, the hurlers have managed to claim the Armagh title to set up an Ulster quarter-final date with Fermanagh nominees Lisbellaw.

Their match 12 months ago was an absolute thriller with goals from Sean Corrigan and Conor O’Shea keeping the Ernemen in touch heading down the straight. They were handed a great opportunity for a third goal, and a replay, in the 76th minute, but Declan McGarry’s penalty was beautifully saved by Dean Gaffney – who is playing out the field this season.

Dean’s older brother Ryan will be leading the scoring charge for the Na Fianna although their other sibling Shea, who is joint captain, may miss out through injury.

The side looked very strong in their 2-19 to 2-8 win over Cuchulainn’s in the county final last month with Ryan Gaffney and Marty Maguire grabbing the goals. The Carvills – Cahal and joint-captain David – Nathan Curry and Kieran McKernan are also key players.

Lisbellaw also had a league win over Cuchcullain’s this year, but the margin of victory was just three points.

That was in Division One of the Táin Club League and four wins in seven games is positive preparation for a side that relies on league hurling more than most due to the championship situation in Fermanagh.

One of the three losses came at the hands of Middletown, and it was a heavy one at that with the Orchard side travelling home as 10-point victors.

That match will have little impact on this quarter-final, though, as both sides had eyes on county duty at the time, and the intensity should be much higher in Crossmaglen.

John Duffy, Daniel Teague and the Corrigans, Sean and Ciaran, provide real class for the St Patrick’s side, and they’ll travel with confidence.

They’ll have experience too. The Fermanagh teamsheet this year often contained 14 Lisbellaw players with Francie McBrien from St John’s in Antrim usually the exception.

Still, there’s no better build-up than championship hurling, and it’s something Lisbellaw haven’t been able to enjoy.

It’s that edge that should see Middletown into the last four – for the second season in a row.