The word on the street is that Trillick ventured so far as Tydavnet, County Monaghan to sell some club tickets this week.
Perhaps they didn’t know it is home to many of Scotstown’s most avid supporters. Perhaps they did.
Either way, they were snubbed in one particular household for sure. You’d hedge your bets it was more than one. We await clarification from the Central Statistics Office on that front.
Just as Scotstown are gifted with the geographical dominance of the north-Monaghan club scene, Blackhill are hampered a little further south.
You’re hardly even out of Castleblayney by the time you reach the Emeralds’ fine GAA grounds, grounds that they so often lend to the hectic business end of the juvenile calendar in Monaghan.
There’s a long list of names who probably should don the black and green by technicality, but instead drive by the junior champions’ home, and on through the town to the green and gold of St Mary’s Park and the Castleblayney Faughs.
For years, Blackhill’s juveniles almost ceased to function. The way in which it has bounced back is an immense credit to the community. And next year, they will meet the mighty Faughs in the Intermediate ranks.
There is the small matter of Arva in their path in 2023 however. Both sides have played nine championship games this campaign. The Northern Standard’s Colm Shalvey makes it 15-137 scored for the Cavan champions, versus 12-91 for Blackhill.
Former Cavan panellist Tristan Noack Hoffman seems likely to return to the intercounty scene based on his current trajectory, and skippered by Ciarán Brady, Arva have experience that defies their youth.
Much has been made of their survival in Cavan’s Division One this year, while they won by double digits in both of their clashes in Ulster this season.
Blackhill have firepower of their own however, with Philip Donnelly notching 4-13 from and 4-25 in all this year.
In Donal Courtney, they have one of the finest fullbacks on the club scene in County Monaghan, while Aaron Kenny may well provide the Midas touch, having captained Castleblayney to the Ulster JHC last weekend.
The likes of Tommy Geehan and Conor Martin typify a pacey side that graft for every ball. With Conal Sheridan doubtful for Arva, that could well be the difference on a wintery surface in Roslea.
Arva certainly have pedigree, but in the Drumlin County and beyond, Blackhill have a knack of making molehills out of mountains.
