Ulster Club Football Finals Preview
AIB Ulster Club Senior Football Championship Final:
Crossmaglen (Ard Mhacha) v Naomh Conall (Dún na nGall)
Sunday 12th December at St Tiernachs Park, Clones. Throw-In: 1.45pm
Sunday sees a unique Ulster Club Senior Football Final pairing as the novices from Naomh Conall face up to the provincial kingpins of the last fifteen years, and four times All Ireland Club champions, in Crossmaglen Rangers. The Armagh side need no introduction as they reclaimed their County title this year after a one year absence, and are under new management in the form of former players Gareth O’Neill and Tony McEntee. Naomh Conall collected their second ever Donegal Senior Championship earlier this year with a relatively young side guided by team manager, Cathal Corey.
Crossmaglen have reached this year’s decider with two great victories over established sides. In the quarter final, they played host to the reigning All Ireland Club Champions St Galls, and produced a masterclass in tackling, team play and finishing. Courtesy of their ruthlessness in front of the posts, including a converted penalty from Oisin McConville, Cross had secured a healthy half time lead to which they held on to run out 1-12 to 0-09 winners. In the semi final, they faced Down champions, St Mary’s Burren at Casement Park. Again, a sprint start saw the men from South Armagh race into an eight point lead. However, this time the lead was wiped out by two three-pointers from the Mourne men, but a Michael McNamee point and a bit of old fashioned ‘know how’ ensured that it was Crossmaglen who progressed to another Ulster Club Final, by virtue of a 1-11 to 2-07 scoreline.
Experienced campaigners such as Paul Hearty, Oisin McConville, Francie Bellew and John McEntee are still vital cogs in the Crossmaglen machine. Their class has been supplemented by the new crop of the Kernan brothers, Paul McKeown, Danny O’Callaghan, Johnny Hanratty and David McKenna who are all now revelling in their central roles on the side.
On the Naomh Conall side, Donegal Under 21 players Ciaran Boyle, Leo McLoone and Dermot Molloy play integral roles and are ably assisted by team captain Anthony Thompson, Johnny Bonner, Leon Thompson and Eoin Waide. Naomh Conall have also had a difficult passage to today’s decider. After collecting their county title, they were drawn in the Preliminary Round against Cavan champions, Kingscourt Stars. In a great game of attacking football which produced some excellent scores, Naomh Conall emerged victorious by 1-12 to 0-11 to set the wheels in motion.
In the resulting quarter final, Naomh Conall came up against a fancied Clontibret side at Ballybofey but finished strongly with Dermot Molloy and Leon Thompson wreaking havoc inside to run out 2-12 to 0-09 victors. Their quick attack again showed its capabilities in the semi final against Coalisland as they established a 1-07 to 0-06 lead at half time. However, the Coalisland side showed great heart to tie the game with time running out but some stout defending coupled with a late Dara Gallagher point saw the men from Glenties reach unchartered territory for the club.
Crossmaglen versus Naomh Conall, Youth versus Experience, there can only be one winner, or can there?
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AIB Ulster Club Intermediate Football Championship Final:
Lisnaskea (Fear Manach) v Doohamlet (Muineachán)
Saturday 11th December at Kingspan Breffni Park. Throw-In: 2.00pm
In the Intermediate Final, to be played under floodlights on Saturday evening at Kingspan Breffni Park, Fermanagh champions, Lisnaskea Emmetts take on Monaghan winners, Doohamlet. The Fermanagh side are managed by Peter Clarke and have already qualified for the Senior Football League Final which takes place next weekend. They defeated Senior Football Championship winners, Roslea, in that semi final so the ability of this Lisnaskea side is unquestionable. Doohamlet are managed by Fergal Reel and have also been very impressive in the Ulster series following their Monaghan Intermediate Championship success earlier this year.
En route to this final, Doohamlet had to overcome an extra game in the form of the Preliminary Round. In a tight affair against Bundoran, Doohamlet needed two late scores including a free kick from goalkeeper, James Casey, to see off the challenge from the Donegal men to collect a 1-12 to 1-10 victory. In their quarter final clash with Sarsfields from Armagh, Doohamlet were comfortable winners on a 1-10 to 0-08 scoreline at Crossmaglen. In the semi final, Doohamlet came up against a fancied Derylaughan side but produced a fine display of attacking football to emerge comprehensive winners on a scoreline of 2-12 to 1-05. The Monaghan side are captained by midfielder Glen Comiskey, and have fine players in the form of county player Colin Walshe, Shane McManus, Ted Duffy and the two Niall Connolly’s.
Lisnaskea have had a relatively comfortable passage to the final. They defeated Tullylish from Down in the quarter final by 2-12 to 1-08 at Pairc Esler. This was followed up by a 2-12 to 0-09 success over the Antrim champions, St Mary’s Rasharkin. The Lisnaskea side are captained by Brian Og Maguire and he is well assisted by Pearse Collins, Mark McKenna, Adrian Little, Mark Little and Daniel Kille. They, like their opponents, will go into the decider full of confidence as they aim to become the first Fear Manach club to collect an Ulster Football Club title. History beckons but don’t rule out a replay!
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AIB Ulster Club Junior Football Championship Final:
Corduff (Muineachán) v Swanlinbar (An Cabhán)
Sunday 12th December at St Tiernachs Park, Clones. Throw-In: 12.00pm
In the Junior decider, Monaghan champions Corduff take on Swanlinbar from Cavan. Corduff are managed by Shane Donohue and Raymond Byrne, who also lines out at full forward for the Monaghan champions. They needed a replay to overcome Tyrone champions Killyman in the Preliminary Round and they did so impressively on a 1-10 to 0-07 scoreline at Inniskeen. For the third week in a row, they lined out in the Ulster Club Championship when they edged out Donegal champions, Naomh Colmcille by 1-08 to 0-06 at St Tiernach’s Park, Clones in the quarter final. In the semi final, Corduff produced a strong second half display to see off the challenge from Grange as they ran out 0-15 to 0-10 winners at Casement Park. Corduff captain Gerry Mee leads by example from corner back, while Declan Larkin, the midfield pairing of Cathal and Shane Connolly, and Martin Mills have been impressive throughout this campaign.
Swanlinbar are managed by John Joe Stewart and come into the final on the back of two comprehensive victories in the Ulster Club series. In the quarter final, they comprehensively defeated Derry champions, Ardmore by 4-16 to 0-06 at Kingspan Breffni Park. Then, at the semi final stage they emerged victorious after a 0-16 to 0-07 win over Down champions, Drumaness. They are captained by John Cunningham at midfield, and will also call on big displays from Michael Cunningham, Adrian McGoldrick, Michael Curran, Paul McGovern and Kevin Brennan.
Since the Ulster Intermediate and Junior competitions were officially introduced in 2004, Monaghan and Tyrone clubs have dominated the Junior grade, with each county supplying three winners in this period. Swanlinbar will be aiming to break this tradition and are suitably equipped to do so, if they can withstand a strong challenge from the Corduff side. Good luck to all teams in these eagerly awaited Ulster Finals.
2010 ULSTER CLUB RESULTS
AIB ULSTER CLUB SENIOR FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP 2010
Oct 17 Kingscourt 0-11 Naomh Conall 1-12 @ Kingscourt
Oct 31 Crossmaglen 1-12 St Galls 0-09 @ Crossmaglen
Oct 31 Coalisland 1-10 Roslea 1-07 @ Omagh
Oct 31 Naomh Conall 2-11 Clontibret 0-09 @ Ballybofey
Nov 07 Burren 1-12 Eoghan Rua 0-05 @ Pairc Esler
Nov 14 Naomh Conall 1-10 Coalisland 1-09 @ Enniskillen
Nov 14 Crossmaglen 1-11 Burren 2-07 @ Casement Park
AIB ULSTER CLUB INTERMEDIATE FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP 2010
Oct 17 Doohamlet 1-12 Bundoran 1-10 @ Clones
Oct 30 Sarsfields 0-08 Doohamlet 1-10 @ Crossmaglen
Oct 31 Drumalee 0-16 Derrylaughan 2-15 @ Breffni Park (AET)
Oct 31 Tullylish 1-08 Lisnaskea 2-12 @ Pairc Esler
Oct 31 Rasharkin 1-10 Castledawson 0-11 @ Casement Park
Nov 14 Lisnaskea 2-12 Rasharkin 0-09 @ Omagh
Nov 14 Doohamlet 2-12 Derrylaughan 1-05 @ Enniskillen
AIB ULSTER CLUB JUNIOR FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP 2010
Oct 17 Killyman 1-12 Corduff 1-12 @ Coalisland (AET)
Oct 24 Corduff 1-10 Killyman 0-07 @ Inniskeen
Oct 31 Maguiresbridge 1-07 Drumaness 1-14 @ Crossmaglen
Oct 31 Corduff 1-08 Naomh Colmcille 0-06 @ Clones
Oct 31 Swanlinbar 4-16 Ardmore 2-06 @ Breffni Park
Oct 31 Grange 0-14 O’Donnells 0-06 @ Crossmaglen
Nov 14 Swanlinbar 0-16 Drumaness 0-07 @ Omagh
Nov 14 Corduff 0-15 Grange 0-10 @ Casement Park
