IT'S do or die for
three local clubs in the championship this weekend
as they face into crunch ties. Naomh Colmcille,
Buncrana and Burt all need to win to prolong their
championship seasons, while Urris and Naomh Pádraig
have first leg victories to fall back on and only
need to draw their respective second leg ties to
advance.
Naomh Colmcille will play Naomh Mhuire in an
Intermediate Championship play off in Termon on
Sunday (throw-in 2pm) with the winner advancing to
the quarter finals.
Buncrana will seek to overturn a first leg defeat
when they host Urris, also in the Intermediate
Championship, at the Scarvey on Saturday night
(throw-in 6pm) and anything less than a win will see
them exit the championship. And in the Junior A
Football Championship Burt host Naomh Pádraig
Iskaheen at Hibernian Park (Saturday at 6pm) where
the home side also need a win to force a play-off
and stay in the championship.
Urris steamrolled Buncrana in their first leg clash
in Clonmany last Saturday, winning by 3-11 to 0-10.
Everything Urris touched turned to gold in the first
leg, but manager Michael Doherty is expecting a
stiff response from Buncrana on Saturday night.
“I expect Buncrana will come out with all guns
blazing early on and we have to be prepared for
that. The Scarvey is a bigger pitch, and we look
forward to playing on it as I believe that will help
rather than hinder us.”
Buncrana manager Mark Crossan acknowledged his side
had an off day in the first leg.
“The players know they will have to play better if
we are to win the second leg,” he said.
“We were disappointed at the manner of the defeat,
but the bigger pitch at the Scarvey should suit us.”
Naomh Pádraig manager Aiden McAleer was in upbeat
mood ahead of his side’s clash with Burt. The
Muff-based side were good value for their 0-11 to
1-5 victory over Burt in the first leg last month,
and a hard fought victory away to Na Rossa in the
league last weekend has kept up their momentum.
“Form-wise, we’ve been doing well and last weekend’s
win was our tenth on the trot,” McAleer said.
“Our game with Na Rossa was a good, hard hitting one
that was well reffed by Martin Coll. We matched them
for football and physically, and hit a last minute
point to win it.”
“That’s given us a lot of confidence.”
Speaking of the first leg, McAleer said that Naomh
Pádraig imposed their game on Burt.
“We contained Burt and worked very hard to stop them
playing their game. We didn’t let them play like we
know they could.
“But we know the players and what Burt is capable
of, and it will be a whole new game.”
A question mark hangs over this Junior Championship
clash, with Burt scheduled to play an Ulster Hurling
League final on Saturday too. The county fixtures
committee had not made a final determination on the
fixture at time of going to press.
Meanwhile, after their stunning 1-9 to 0-11 victory
over Naomh Mhuire last weekend, Naomh Colmcille face
into Sunday’s play-off in fine fettle. The 2010
Junior Champions accounted for Carndonagh in the
preliminary round and bounced back from a heavy
first leg defeat in Kincasslagh to record an
excellent home win last weekend.
With key men Barry O’Hagan, Matthew Crossan and
Thomas McKinley all fit and rearing to go, Naomh
Colmcille go into the game as close to full strength
as possible. Manager Stephen Friel freely admits
that preserving the club’s place in Division 3 is
his number one priority, but they will be a tough
nut for Naomh Mhuire to crack on Sunday.
(Inishowen Independent) |
