All-Ireland Junior Football Club Championship quarter-final: Red Hugh’s (Donegal) v Dunedin Connolly’s (Edinburgh) (tomorrow, O’Donnell Park, 1pm)
THINK All-Ireland quarter-finals and you think of the term ‘banana skin’, but Donegal and Ulster champions Red Hugh’s will know that Scottish side Dunedin Connolly’s present much more of a threat than a potential slip.
This is the third year in a row that the Edinburgh outfit have appeared at this stage and they have not looked out of place yet.
Two years ago they had three points to spare against Dublin outfit Rosenallis while last year fellow Tir Chonaill outfit Naomh Colmcille scraped through with just a point to spare.
Crucially though, both those games took place at Granton Road in Edinburgh with Letterkenny set to host tomorrow’s fixture.
That should give Seosamh Mac Ceallabhui’s side a real advantage as they attempt to put the shackles on yet another opponent.
They have kept things extraordinarily tight at the back in Donegal and Ulster and with Connolly’s managing just 2-6, 2-6 and 1-9 in their three All-Ireland games over the last two years, they’ll be confident of keeping another side to a low score.
They have the firepower at the other end to take advantage of that too. Calvin Bradley has been in exceptional scoring form in Ulster while James Carlin carries a real goal threat, even if he is likely to be used as an impact substitute. In forward-thinking midfielder Peadar McGlinchey they have yet another dangerous weapon.
Connolly’s, who traditionally have a strong Donegal and Mayo pick, have some Ulster representation in the form of Armagh’s Conor McCann and Tyrone’s Ronan McGurk. Another Orchard player, Adam McKeever, has been converted from an outfielder to goalkeeper and his long-range frees have been a real asset for the British champions.
Still, it looks a big ask for the visitors. Red Hugh’s simply do not cough up scores and Connolly’s don’t appear to have enough threats to change that, even with former Mayo forward and joint-manager Sean Malee posting some big tallies this season.
It may not be a high-scoring game, but the Killygordon men should march onto an All-Ireland semi-final.
