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Naomh Colmcille en route to Clones
28.10.10
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Report: Inishowen Independent NAOMH Colmcille’s fairytale season continues when they play Monaghan Junior champions Corduff at Ulster GAA HQ on Sunday. St Tiernach’s Park in Clones will host the AIB Ulster Junior Club Championship quarter-final (throw-in 2.30pm) between the Donegal and Monaghan champions. Naomh Colmcille become the third local club, after Carndonagh (2008) and Moville (2009) to play in the Ulster Junior Club Championship. Carn lost out to Monaghan champions Drumhowan in the quarter-final two years ago, while Moville defeated Down champions Gleann before losing to St Teresa’s of Antrim in last year’s semi-final. The team met for the first training session since their county final win last night (Wednesday) and will train again on Friday. |
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“We’re going into the
unknown, but it’s a big deal for everyone in the club to
be taking part in Ulster and representing the county in
a provincial competition,” team captain Richie Clarke
said yesterday. “We don’t know too much about our
opponents, but it’s a new experience for us and all the
boys are really looking forward to it.” Stephen Friel will have a full panel to choose from for Sunday’s quarter-final clash. Matthew Crossan, who made a telling impact in the final win with two excellent points from play, should be available as Finn Harps season will conclude on Saturday night. “Mattie’s a good fella and when you have a good scoring forward like that you have to use him,” Clarke said. “He’s tied up with Harps most of the time, but he loves his Gaelic too and plays with us when he can and puts in plenty of effort.” |
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The Naomh Colmcille players
have been basking in the afterglow of Sunday’s
tremendous win, but Clarke insists they players are
delighted to be back in training and focusing on Ulster.
He added that the championship win has given the whole
club, and indeed the whole parish, a real lift. “It has been unreal,” he says. “There has been people coming up and congratulating the players all week, even people that aren’t connected with the club.” “And it has been great for the young players too,” he continued. “Our U15s have a final coming up against Downings, and they’re on a real high, talking about how they’re going to bring home a cup too. It’s just been a great week for the club.” The low-down on Corduff Corduff, the home club of former Monaghan manager Seamus McEneaney and his referee brother Pat, defeated Cremartin after a replay in the Monaghan Junior final. Relegated from the Intermediate ranks in 2009, Corduff, who are managed by Monaghan vocational schools boss Shane Donoghue and star full forward Raymond Byrne, overcame Tyrone champions Killyman, also after a replay, in the preliminary round of the Ulster championship. Having drawn with Killyman in Tyrone in the first round (at 1-12 apiece), the south Monaghan side won comfortably by 1-10 to 0-7 in last Sunday’s replay in Inniskeen. Centre half back Declan Larkin is described as being of county standard, and his battle with Naomh Colmcille centre forward Barry O’Hagan will have a crucial bearing on the outcome of Sunday’s game. Strong through the middle, full back Ciaran Brennan and the midfield pairing of brothers Shane and Cathal Connolly have also been identified as key players. Up front, experienced player manager Raymond Byrne is the fulcrum of the attack and is accurate from both play and frees. George McKittrick, a former Monaghan minor and U21 player and Keith McEneaney, a county minor in 2009, provide further options up front. For full coverage of all your weekend sport, read the Inishowen Independent. |
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