LCC Tyrone SFC semi-final: Errigal Ciaran v Coalisland (tomorrow, 3.30pm, Pomeroy)
Cahair O'Kane
NO matter which way the wind blows, Errigal Ciaran start each Tyrone championship as favourites. They are overdue backing that up.
It is going on nine years since they shrugged Dromore off coming down the home straight to clear the steps for Enda McGinley to go and lift the last of their seven O'Neill Cups.
There have been good leagues and there have been big wins but never in the time since have Errigal looked as well-equipped in attack.
It is part Darragh Canavan, of course. When they were last in the final two years ago, he wasn't fit to play. When they were dumped out by Dungannon in a stunning game last year, he was still sidelined by a broken wrist.
It's also a big part the development of others. Odhran Robinson, Peter Óg McCartan, Joe Oguz are all significantly improved players since then.
Mark Harte and Adrian O'Donnell have made them look more adaptable. When Clonoe offered them oceans of space in the first round, they took it.
The 14-point margin was plenty impressive without noting the string of saves by Clonoe 'keeper Mickey O'Neill, or how Errigal looked like scoring a goal every time they attacked.
Against Loughmacrory, life was altogether different. The yellow shirts flooded back and made life as horrible as the weather. Errigal didn't score until the 20th minute.
But they had the incision of Peter Harte to create the first goal and the vision of Ruairi Canavan to lob an out-of-position 'keeper for the second, and that got them home.
The maturity to manage the game was something Carrickmore lacked last weekend as they fell victim to a Coalisland side that just doesn't know when to quit.
Four points up and a man up, they should never have been in a position where they were level at 0-7 apiece as Paddy McNeice returned to the fold.
There's enormous credit due to Brian McGuckin's side for that spell and for the way in which they rescued it again with the game's final two points. The sheer value of experience shone through.
McGuckin spoke afterwards about his players' sense that Carrickmore were happy to get them. You cannot imagine the same feeling exists in Errigal's changing room. They know too well the pain Coalisland are capable of inflicting on them.
Errigal were favourites three years ago but instead it was Niall Kerr racing through in the fourth minute of stoppage time to fist Na Fianna to victory as they went on to win the title.
This is their sixth championship semi-final in seven years. They've only made two finals from those six, but then only Trillick and Killyclogher have been in the decider more often in that time. That's just Tyrone for you.
Where the 'Island will really fancy themselves is in shutting down the Errigal attack without having to resort to the sort of barricades that Loughmacrory put up.
Padraig and Eoghan Hampsey are likely to go in against Darragh Canavan and Odhran Robinson. Michael McKernan might play a more orthodox midfield role than last week and try to upset Errigal's blossoming Ben McDonnell – Joe Oguz partnership in there.
They'll need more from Bailey Leonard up front and if Tiernan Quinn is fit, there's likely to be a starting place. Errigal didn't have Aidan McCrory fit the last day and Niall Kelly might have to stay at full-back.
Cormac O'Hagan is the man on form. He was brilliant against Carrickmore, kicking seven points, three of them from play. He's an old-style ball-winner and Errigal have a job on containing him.
The Dunmoyle men will play the game Coalisland allow them to play. If there's space there, they'll kick it. If the space is cut off, they'll look to their runners from deep, but they're less effective when they're made play like that.
Coalisland have the championship smarts, but when they look back on the Carrickmore game they'll see that they were allowed back into the game by an opponent lacking that bit of craft.
Last year's semi-final loss proved Errigal were suffering from a similar affliction. They should never have lost to Dungannon after scoring a goal that put them three up in extra-time.
Getting it to the home straight is the challenge for Coalisland. Errigal can blow any team away when they hit their straps. But if Coalisland are there after 45 minutes, they could well be sitting in another final tomorrow night.
