SLAUGHTNEIL duo Chrissy McKaigue and Brendan Rogers are expected to join the Ulster panel for Saturday’s Interprovincial Football Championship final against Connacht.
It was confirmed on Monday the decider would be played in Carrick-on-Shannon, county Leitrim which was also the venue last time Ulster took on Connacht in the final of the competition.
With that it mind, it had been argued Connacht should travel north this time - possibly to the Athletic Grounds - but the provinces tossed a coin for home venue and Ulster lost meaning they face a lengthy trip to Páirc Seán Mac Diarmada.
Manager Pete McGrath said the duo from Ulster club champions Slaughtneil - who were unavailable last Sunday because of their club’s trip to London to face St Kiernan’s in the All-Ireland club quarter-final - are keen to be on the bus at the weekend.
“They were very keen to be a part of this, prior to them winning the Ulster title,” said McGrath.
“When they won the Ulster title then they had to go to London to play a quarter-final today, but they are a possibility for the next day.”
Tyrone’s Mark Bradley who hobbled off Parnell Park late in last Sunday’s win over Munster with a dead leg, expects to be fit for the final and he could yet be joined by his Red Hand team-mate Mattie Donnelly who missed the semi-final through injury.
“Mattie wasn't here, he’s unfit,” manager McGrath explained after the 3-17 to 1-15 win.
“He had hoped to be able to give us something. He is struggling. He got phsyio work done during the week. Even earlier in the week, he was saying: ‘Look, whatever I can give you, I will give you’. But he was ruled out categorically on Friday night by himself, and by physio advice.
“He’s hopeful that the week will make a difference and that he’ll be in a position to give us something next week, but we have to wait and see on that.”
Ulster won by eight points last Sunday, despite making a sluggish start to both halves against Ger O’Sullivan’s Munster side. Their goals came from Fermanagh’s Aidan Breen, Derry’s Enda Lynn and a Peter Harte penalty. Harte finished the game with 1-8 and afterwards McGrath paid tribute to the Errigal Ciarán star.
“Peter Harte is a very talented footballer,” he said.
“He sees things that other players don’t see. At critical times there today, he popped up with important scores and passes, as did Stefan Campbell in the second-half, some marvellous scores when we really needed them so, overall, we’re delighted.”
Meanwhile, Tony Kernan came on as a second half-substitute at Parnell Park. Surprisingly, the game was the Crossmaglen All-Ireland winners’ first for Ulster.
“I was due to play last year and then it was called off,” he explained.
“The previous manager [his father Joe] asked me a couple of times, but I didn’t think it would be right going to play for him. Aaron [his brother] played and my dad both played for Ulster, so it was good to get a run-out and good to get a result.”
Kernan could have had a late goal last Sunday and will hope to get on the scoresheet in the final: “There’s a chance of a medal at the end of it,” he said.
“I didn’t get any medals at all this year so I’ve room for one. To represent your province is huge and I don’t know why some boys don’t want to do it.
“Maybe boys who have five or six Railway Cup medals don’t want to play any more? But I think it’s a huge honour and I was delighted when I was asked.”
