Ulster Intermediate Football Club Championship semi-final: Milford (Donegal) v Rostrevor (Down) (Sunday, Athletic Grounds, 2.30pm)
WHEN Rostrevor’s name was pulled out alongside Drumaness in the Down Intermediate Championship draw back in April, enthusiasm for the tournament amongst the squad would have been fairly low.
It was the first time that the St Bronagh’s club had ever played at this level and they made no secret that securing a return to the senior grade through the league was the season’s main aim.
As the rounds clocked by however, interest started to gather pace and while there wasn’t unbridled celebrations when they defeated Annaclone in the county final, the success was enjoyed.
Perhaps it took the allure of an Ulster campaign – their first for the men’s team since the Reds lost to Enniskillen Gaels in the senior quarter-final in 1998 – to really build the excitement, and now they are just 60 minutes away from a provincial final with Milford standing in their way.
If they win they will become the first side from the club into an Ulster final since their minors won the St Paul’s tournament 13 years ago, and their performance against St Brigid’s in the quarter-final suggests that they are well placed to progress.
They won out 1-13 to 0-10 and that was even with Shane Mulholland holding top scorer Conor Doyle, who missed the county final through suspension, in reserve until the 55th minute.
Given Milford’s impressive showing against Killeavy in their own quarter-final, Doyle may find himself thrown in from the start at the Athletic Grounds.
It was at tomorrow’s venue that Danny O’Donnell’s side upset the odds two weeks ago, Tony McNamee curling over a late winner to dump out the Armagh side.
They achieved that victory without goalkeeper Caolan McGettigan and Pauric Curley, due to a wedding, and both should come back into the team.
The Tir Chonaill side created six goal chances over the hour but only took one with Killeavy defender Cathair McKinney making a couple of sensational goal-line saves to deny them.
They simply won’t create six goal chances against a jam-packed Rostrevor defence, so it’s up to the likes of McNamee, Kane Barrett and Cathal McGettigan to keep the scoreboard ticking over with points.
A second upset looks unlikely though, and it’s Mulholland’s men who should make it to the decider.
