Ballinderry Shamrocks

BALLINDERRY are bidding to hold on to the Greengate-sponsored Ulster Club Minor Football title. Not only that but they are chasing an Ulster teenage double.

On Friday, the Derry U18 champions face Pearse Og from Armagh at Shaw’s Road in the St Paul’s organised tournament semi-finals.

On Saturday the other semi brings together Clontibret and Eglish. The two games are sure to produce something special.

“It has been a good year so far for us,” said Ballinderry’s Charlie Conway.

“We have already won the Ulster U16 title in the tournament at Ballyshannon so we would be keen to make it a provincial double.

“And we have taken the U14 Feili na nOg title, as well.”

Quite a season for the South Derry club which has nine of last year’s minor squad again eligible for the U18 grade. But it is likely that half-forward Darren McGeehin will be missing against Pearse Og. He is due to go on a family skiing holiday.

Captain of the side which beat Enniskillen Gaels in the quarter-finals is Ciaran McCusker who is recovering from a nose injury.

McCusker, whose brother Niall is also in the team, and Damian Campbell are both as adept at rugby as they are at gaelic football. James and Darren Conway, Thomas Muldoon and that ‘ball of fire’ Vivian Bell will also be in action.

In preparation for the semi-finals, Ballinderry played an Antrim minor selection and won by a massive 3-22 to 0-8 at Casement Park. They also beat the Donegal Vocational Schools’ team at Celtic Park.

But they will have a tough nut to crack in Pearse Og, who easily overcame Ardara. Managed by Kevin McAuley, along with Paul Grimley and Tommy Martin, the Armagh lads have some powerful players in heir team.

None better than big Barry Gordon who is described by Charlie Conway as “the best minor to come out of Ulster for a long time.”

Gordon, Declan McAuley (brother of the manager) and Tomas Duggan are all county minors but Pearse Og have some injury worries.

Duggan has a shoulder injury, corner-back Ciaran McManus damaged his jaw and Paul Nugent, another county panellist, is doubtful because of ankle trouble.

Available for selection this time is Ronan Clarke who was sent off in the Armagh U16 county final. His suspension is now up and he will be considered for a place in the team.

The second semi-final on Saturday is no less interesting. Clontibret have won everything in Monaghan this year but Eglish are determined to stop their glory trail at this point.

“We haven’t come this far to stop now,” said Eglish secretary and minor manager Conor Daly.

“I haven’t seen Clontibret in action but I have heard about them. I believe they have a couple of sharp corner-forwards that we must stop if we are to reach the final. In the hope that we do get that far I’ll be watching the first semi-final on Friday.”

Eglish will field much the same team which brushed aside Sean Stinson’s by two points but there may be some positional changes in the attack.

Hogan Cup medalist John Paul McGeough captains the side from full-back while Martin McCann may line out at midfield this time instead of centre-forward. It’s a young Pearse Og side with 18 of the 24 panellists under-age again next season.

Clontibret were highly impressive in their 0-15 t0 2-2 win over Mayobridge with nine-point man Greg Leonard outstanding. He did get a leg injury before the end of that match but should be recovered for the crack at Eglish.

The fielding of John Paul Mone was also spectacular while the tight knit defence was adept at blocking.

A Monaghan team has never won this Ulster minor championship so that’s an extra inventive for Clontibret.

Apart from the U18 action, the U10 ‘A’ and ‘B’ semi-finals, in the Jack McCartan tournament, will also be played on Friday and Saturday.

The timetable is:

FRIDAY: Minor (2.00): Ballinderry v Pearse Og (G McClory); U10B (11.30): Gort na Mona v Davitt’s; U10A (12.15): St Gall’s v St John’s.SATURDAY: Minor (2.00): Clontibret v Eglish (P Mullan); U10B (11.30): St Enda’s v Lamh Dhearg; U10A (12.15): St Paul’s v Rossa