Moville Celtic bid to make history
22.04.10
by
Caoimhinn Barr, Inishowen Independent
MOVILLE Celtic are bidding to create a piece of
history this weekend by becoming the first ever
Inishowen team to win back-to-back Ulster Junior Cups.
After upsetting the odds to defeat the mighty Redcastle
in last year’s grand finale, Moville start as firm
favourites against Donegal League outfit, Lagan Harps,
at Ballyare on Sunday evening (6pm).
Moville boss Darren Bredin will be hoping that the
trophy is returned to the Glencrow trophy cabinet, where
it has resided happily for the past twelve months.
“To win the Ulster Junior Cup last year was great but to
retain it would be a massive achievement,” he said.
After a less than inspiring start to the defence of
their crown with a 4-3 win at Kilmacrennan last
November, Darren Bredin’s Moville team went on a
spectacular cup run hammering Gweedore Celtic 5-0
sandwiched between victories over Inishowen’s big two,
Redcastle and Clonmany.
Following a turbulent league campaign in which they
flirted with relegation before ultimately finishing
fourth, Moville could yet end their season on an
historic high.
In goal Darren Bredin faces his first dilemma between
Paul White and Maurice McGeady with the latter likely to
get the nod because of his experience in big games. |
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The Moville manager may
look to young Conor McLaughlin at right back with Darryl
Doherty expected to line-up on the left. Kevin Coyle,
Gavin Doherty and Tony McGeady are also vying for
starting positions in defence.
In midfield, PJ Barr, Oran McDermott, Graeme Doherty,
Shane Canning, Declan McGuinness and Ritchie McElhinney,
who was last year’s matchwinner, give manager Bredin a
real selection headache. Up front the experience of Joe
Doherty is certain to be paired with the electric pace
of Nigel McMonagle.
Darren Bredin will not be taking the challenge of Lagan
lightly as the Donegal League team have already upset
the odds to defeat Cockhill and Glengad in the last two
rounds.
“I don’t know a whole lot about Lagan but they have had
a couple of excellent results so far so it will not be
an easy game,” he said.
Going into the game, Bredin is relieved to have a
healthy panel despite a ‘few minor knocks’ to a number
of players.
When asked who his key men were likely to be? Bredin
said he didn’t want to single out any players because it
was a real team effort to reach the final.
Managed by Jason Gibson, Lagan Harps boast former Finn
Harps and Donegal GAA goalkeeper, Tony Blake, who
excelled during Lagan’s 1-0 win at Glengad last month.
Moville will need to keep the shackles on talented
winger Kevin Kelly and Lagan frontman, Johnny Gallagher,
who can pose a threat to any defence.
As history beckons, the Moville Celtic players are on
the cusp of something special this Sunday. They will be
roared on by more than one hundred supporters from the
town, who are expected to make the 45-mile journey to
Ballyare.
Moville’s Path to the Final
R1 Kilmacrennan 3, Moville 4
R2 Moville 5, Redcastle 3 (AET)
QF Moville 5, Gweedore Celtic 0
SF Clonmany 0, Moville 1 (AET)
For full coverage of all your weekend sport, read the
Inishowen Independent. |
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