Ulster Club Intermediate Hurling Championship final: Na Fianna, Middletown (Armagh) v Erin’s Own, Lavey (Derry) (tomorrow, Corrigan Park, 1pm)
LAVEY carry a proud tradition into tomorrow’s Ulster intermediate hurling final, but their roll of honour will count for little against a battle-hardened Middletown collective keen to write another glowing chapter in their own history.
The Armagh champions have mixed with the best at senior level on occasion since being crowned Ulster intermediate kings in 2011, and return to the grade this year determined to repeat the dose after completing a hat-trick of county titles for the first time.
Their 2011/12 campaign ended with a narrow All-Ireland final defeat to Carlow’s Mount Leinster Rangers but, with 10 starting survivors from that game, the possibility of getting back to that stage is a huge driving force.
With so many dual players operating in both codes for the guts of the past decade, there are plenty of miles on the Middletown clock, but also a huge accumulation of big game experience.
And Martin Curry’s Armagh champions needed all their know-how to get past Eire Og, Carrickmore in the Ulster semi-final, Ryan Gaffney stepping up in extra-time so see Na Fianna across the line.
Lavey boss Johnny McGarvey is aware that, after more than a few fallow years, plenty of his players will be going into unknown territory when they step out at Corrigan Park tomorrow.
They may be the second most decorated hurling club in Derry with 18 county titles - the last coming in 2010 - but a barren spell has seen a club that competed in five Ulster senior finals between 1987 and 2002 drop down to intermediate level.
They are where they are, says McGarvey, and the return to the big stage has reignited passions around the club in recent weeks and months.
“We haven’t been really competitive in the Derry championship for a number of years, probably since reaching the final in 2011,” said the Lavey boss.
“Since then we’ve struggled in league and championship. This is the level we’re at and we’re happy enough to embrace that.
“From the squad that played in 2010-2011, probably 10 or 11 of them have gone between injuries, retirements or such like things.
“It has been a struggle, but other teams have that as well. We had plenty of success for a long time but it comes in cycles.
“Getting to an Ulster final has been a big thing for us, it’s created a wee bit of a buzz around Lavey and a bit of excitement that hasn’t been there in a long time.”
The Derry outfit had to dig deep to overcome Antrim’s Patrick Sarsfield’s in the last four, and McGarvey will have been concerned by the early concession of two goals.
But, with Paddy Henry as reliable as ever from frees, Lavey showed plenty of character to get over the line.
They will need to display the same resolve tomorrow against Middletown, and McGarvey is expecting a titanic tussle.
He added: “They’re knocking about there a long time, and they’ve a fair few guys who are playing Armagh senior county now or who have over the last few years.
“We probably lack that wee bit of experience, we don’t have too many boys floating about the county teams, but we’re coming back hopefully.
“It’s going top be very even. I was at the Slaughtneil match last year and it was very competitive for 50 minutes, so we’re under no illusions about how good a side they are.”
PATHS TO THE FINAL
Na Fianna, Middletown
Armagh SHC semi-final: Middletown 0-17 Cuchullain’s 1-13
Armagh SHC final: Middletown 0-17 Lamh Dhearg, Keady 1-12
Ulster IHC semi-final: Middletown 2-10 Eire Og, Carrickmore 2-13 (Tyrone) (AET)
Erin’s Own, Lavey
Derry SHC qualifier: Lavey 0-10 Kevin Lynch’s, Dungiven 1-17
Derry IHC final: Lavey 0-16 Swatragh 0-12
Ulster IHC semi-final: Lavey 3-16 Patrick Sarsfield’s (Antrim) 2-17
