Football

Inniskeen Grattans and Bellaghy Wolfe Tones (Derry) set to battle for final berth

FonaCAB Ulster Minor Football Champions' Tournament Quarter-final: Bellaghy Wolfe Tones (Derry) v Inniskeen Grattans (Monaghan) at St Paul's GAC, Sunday (1.00)

Inniskeen Grattans will tread new territory when they contest the FonaCAB Ulster Minor Football Champions' quarter-final at St Paul's this weekend It is the first time that a team from the club has won the Monaghan championship for around 50 years so the first time that the teenagers had a chance of mixing it with other top teams in the province.

“We have had a great year in Inniskeen with our minors winning the county championship and our seniors surviving in Division One,” enthuses secretary Gemma Woods.

”It is fantastic to have a chance now to test ourselves against the other top minor teams in Ulster.

“I hope we don't lose our way on getting to the match as it is such an unfamiliar road to travel,” she jokes.

Bellaghy have already been there this year, playing Dunloy in last weekend's preliminary round and they confidently overcame that hurdle. They also have won the Jimmy McConville Memorial Cup so they know what it is all about.

“”We were comfortable enough at the end in last Sunday's game with Dunloy,” recalls manager Damian Cassidy.

“It took a while for the rhythm to return to the team as the boys hadn't been together very much from the county final. Most of them were involved in college competitions but, once they got going, the rhythm returned and they finished pretty strong.

“Playing in the quarter-final was beneficial to us and it allowed the team to gel together again after being apart, mostly, since winning the county championship final. I was pleased enough with the overall performance of the side.

“However, we are at a disadvantage against Inniskeen. We know absolutely nothing about them and, naturally, they had their scouts watching us last Sunday.

“What we do know is that no team comes out of Monaghan except they are good. Monaghan teams play a traditional, uncompromising brand of football.

“There is nothing wrong with that but it makes them difficult to defeat.”

Many people would say the same about Derry club football so it should be an interesting battle before one or other team advances to the December 26 semi-final against St Eunan's, Letterkenny.

Bellaghy had three players in the Derry U17 team this year while Inniskeen had two in the Ulster winning Monaghan side. They are defender Shane Hanratty and half-forward Sean Jones.

The Farney fellows are a tight knit of player with Hanratty's brother Christopher also in defence and they are cousins of Andrew Woods who is also in the team. All being relations of secretary Gemma Woods, as well! The team is managed by Stephen Carlan.

“I'd imagine that many of the lads on both teams know each other from college competitions so they will draw on that knowledge. Anyhow, we go to the quarter-final with an open mind and with the attitude to enjoy the occasion,” stresses secretary Woods.

No doubt, the Inniskeen spies took careful notice of the form of 'Patsy' Spier who rifled over nine points, six from play, against Dunloy but there are many others of note in the Oak Leaf side and that quarter-final win will have done the team a power of good.

Neither side report any injury problems and both go into battle with the same attitude – see what happens and enjoy the occasion.