Ulster Intermediate Championship Final: Down v Fermanagh (Today, Pairc Esler, 1pm)
THE Ulster Intermediate title is up for grabs for the first time since 2018 when Down take on Fermanagh in Pairc Esler this afternoon.
That was the last time this competition, won by Tyrone, was played with Down holding the fort as the sole intermediate side in the province these last few years.
Today’s finalists Fermanagh were up there that year as well but were relegated to junior, however, after their All-Ireland win over Wicklow last year, they are back in the middle tier.
The Mourne county last won this title in 2014 when, ironically, they defeated Fermanagh in the final, however, it is the Erne county who are the most recent winners of the two, having beaten Antrim in the 2015 decider.
The two counties faced one another just a few weeks ago in a league encounter, which itself turned out to be as big as a championship match as they battled to to save their Division Three status. That day it was Down who emerged victorious in a real ding-dong battle winning by two points, 1-17 to 2-12.
Expect this one to be no different and it could well come down to a shoot-out between the two sets of forwards.
Down’s main scoring threat will come from Natasha Ferris and Jessica Foy, both were very accurate in front of the posts against Fermanagh last day out while Eimear Smyth, last year’s junior player of the year, has been in outstanding for the Erne side and Down will need to try their best to curtail the Derrygonnelly Harps player.
For Down joint managers, Peter Lynch and Caoibhe Sloan, this too is their first provincial final and one they are looking forward to, with a first return to Pairc Esler for the senior ladies since 2017.
“Any provincial title has real value in it and it’s always a privilege to play in one,” said Lynch. “Down haven’t had a provincial competition in a couple of years and that has made it difficult when preparing for the All-Ireland series because you are coming up against teams from Connacht and Leinster who have had two or three really competitive provincial championship games.
“It is great to be playing in Pairc Esler. It has been a few years, maybe four or five since Down last played there. Hopefully, this will be the start of it becoming a more regular occurrence.”
Fermanagh boss Jonny Garrity says he is impressed with how his players have responded to their relegation play-off defeat to Wicklow last week and winning the Ulster title this afternoon could be a turning point.
“It could potentially be huge. I really feel for the girls as it has been a difficult league campaign. We tried a few things against Sligo but they were a bit further down the road with their strength and conditioning and we got caught that day but against Down, Roscommon and Wicklow there was nothing between us in those games, just a few decisions, a few errors and luck too was not on our side,” said Garrity.
“They deserve to see things turn around for them but don’t get that right automatically and we know we must work hard for it. The girls have really picked themselves up this week after the disappointment of losing to Wicklow.
“We know it will be a closely fought game with Down. There is little between the sides and it will come down to margins for error. It’s an Ulster final, the incentive is there and it’s all to fight for on the day.”
