Minor B Football Championship Semi-Finals Preview
Both Minor B Football Championship semi-finals are down for decision this Sunday with favourites, Cuchullain’s Dunloy facing Con Magee’s Glenravel in Rasharkin and St. Comgall’s, Antrim taking on St. James, Aldergrove in Aghagallon. Both games have a 12-00 start.
Dunloy’s recent victory away to Moneyglass gave them the league title in a winner takes all contest and they also recorded a good home win over the St. Ergnat’s in the quarter final of the championship in Dunloy to reach Sunday’s semi-final.
The final game of the league in Moneyglass was a real cracker and a win here for the Marrion Hill side would have given them the title but in a thrilling encounter visitors Dunloy prevailed on a scoreline 0f 4-10 to 2-11.
Anton McGrath sent Cuchullain’s on their way with two first half goals with Liam McCann weighing in with three points. After the break the scores continued with Deaglan Smith, Sean O’Neill and Daire Crawley all in fine scoring form.
They are strong at the back with Paddy Kinsella, Anton McGrath and Aaron Crawford all good defenders. At mid-field Callum Scullion and Deaglan Smith are a solid pairing and in a lively attack Liam McCann, Daithi McGuigan and Daire Crawley are a real threat.
Glenravel will go into this game as underdogs. They didn’t field against Dunloy in the league and finished 6th in Division 2 with only four wins from nine starts but they did produce a good win away to Gort na Mona in the Championship and cannot be ruled out.
Sean McKay, Rian Lennon, Darragh Donaghy and Eoin Hynds were all members of a very good U16 team who won the South West league and are likely to join the Glenravel challenge at Dreen on Sunday but they will look ot the likes of Conleth O’Loan, Ruairi Lennon and Eoin McCusker to lead the line.
St. Comgall’s v Aldergrove
In the other semi-final St. Comgall’s Antrim face St. James Aldergrove in Aghagallon. St. Comgall’s will be backboned by a number of players who saw quite a bit of action in Division 2 of the ACFL late in the season and they did record a facile victory over St. Malachy’s in the quarter-final, winning by 10-15 to 0-4.
St. James Aldergrove have reached Sunday’s semi-final without kicking a ball so we have to look at the league to try and find some sort of a form indicator. Both sides finished on 12 points from nine starts but in their league meeting Aldergrove defeated St. Comgall’s by 3-11 to 2-6 so that would suggest that the boys from Crumlin will start as favourites.