Ulster U17 Football Championship quarter-final: Down v Armagh (today, Pairc Esler, 6pm)
JUST 30 seconds remained of an absorbing minor duel at Pairc Esler last year when Armagh’s Tiarnan Kelly had his penalty saved by Down goalkeeper Jack Hazard.
Kelly booted the rebound over the bar, but the Mourne youngsters held on for a two-point win in the final U18 meeting of these age-old rivals. This evening, the counties meet for the first time at U17 level and Kelly – who topped scored with 1-2 for the Orchardmen last summer and bagged a crucial goal for St Ronan’s in this year’s Hogan Cup final – has moved on.
So too have Conor McCrickard and Liam Kerr, Down’s twin scoring threats that day, but there are new faces on both sides determined to make a mark this evening.
Armagh’s management team remains in place and David Wilson will be in the dugout tomorrow alongside former county skipper Paul McGrane and their Armagh youngsters won 4-6 to 1-10 when the sides met in the Ulster Minor League on March 21.
“That was a very tight game,” said Wilson.
“We got a couple of goals that day, so I’m sure they’ll be trying to stop the goals. It’s slightly different this year in the fact that there’s a backdoor, but you don’t want to be relying on a backdoor.
“We’re happy enough with where we’re at and I’m sure Down are the same.”
Armagh also beat Cavan in their league campaign, but lost to Monaghan (the competition winners) who were beaten by Down in the final round of group fixtures. The Mourne county youngsters were the top scorers in Section A with a consistent 3-34 in three games, while Armagh showed a potent goal threat.
“They don’t get to play before the senior game any more, which is unfortunate,” Wilson observed.
“The last time we were in Newry there was a big crowd and a big atmosphere.
“It was a big build-up and experience for the lads but on Saturday evening at 6pm there’ll be a few hundred there, mostly parents and a few from the boys’ clubs.
“It’ll be a different atmosphere and a different experience, but it’s Championship after all and we have to go at it.”
Wilson, also part of the management team that guided St Ronan’s College, Lurgan to Hogan Cup glory this year, feels that the decision to change the minor grade from under-18 to under-17 should have been made across the board. As it stands, clubs continue to play ‘minor’ at U18 level, while counties switched to U17.
“The biggest disaster with it is the fact that the club age groups all stayed the same,” he explained.
“You could have a lad who is part of a club U16 and minor team and a county U17 team who is being pulled all roads and directions. At the same time, the same age groups are involved in Brock Cup and Trainor Cup in schools so you could have lads who are potentially involved in four different teams.
“It’s crazy. I don’t dispute the change to U17 to take away the pressure of exams which is fair enough, but they needed to change the club end of things as well to make sure it is uniform.
“The lads are getting pulled everywhere and it’s difficult to get a good run with them.”
Down: D Sheridan; D Fegan, L Toal, R Tumilty; P Brookes, G Fitzpatrick, L Brannigan; A Morgan, M Cunningham; S Campbell, J Clarke, P McMullen; T Close, R Connolly, S Johnston
Subs: M Sherry, E McCrickard, T Fettes, B Boyd, P Quinn, T Saul, E Brown, A Crimmins, T Smyth
Armagh: TBC
