Under-21 A Championship (semi finals)
The under-21 championship continues at the week-end with the semi finals of the A competition down for decision with Rossa to line out against St Brigid’s and Lamh Dhearg up against St Enda’s.
This season’s championship has produced some excellent games in both grades and another couple of mouth watering games are scheduled for Sunday. The CCC will be keeping a close eye on the weather forecast hoping for conditions to suit.
Sunday 16th Nov
O’ Donovan Rossa v St Brigid’s
Last year’s beaten finalists O’ Donovan Rossa were installed as favourites this term from the start of the competition, and the Shaw’s road side have most certainly impressed in the competition to date.
They have already claimed the minor title for 2017 and more than a few within the ranks of that successful unit have been involved with their under-21s.
They made short work of the challenge of Dunloy in the opening round with a 7-14 to 1-01 win recorded in a match which most pundits had expected would be a close run affair.
The fact that the Cuchullian’s have made it all the way to the B final since speaks volumes as to the worth of that result.
Dominic McEnhill, who had been very prominent in the minor team which claimed the championship a few weeks previous, recorded a more than healthy 4-05 in that game and he is likely to play a lead role again this weekend.
Rossa followed up that initial outing with a 3-09 to 0-06 win over St Gall’s at Milltown and followed with a 0-12 to 0-05 win over their keenest rivals St John’s in the quarter-final.
The Rossa side feature a good number of their successful minor squad with Eoghan Mc Menamin, Conor Mc Gettigan, Michael Close, Dara Matthews, Tiernan Murphy and the redoubtable Dominic Mc Enhill most likely to be included in the starting side.
The Shaw’s road men lost out by a couple of points in the 2016 final defeat to an excellent Aghagallon, and with James Connolly, Darren Grego, Deaglan Murphy, Gerard Walsh included from their senior side there will be no lack of experience within their ranks.
St Brigid’s impressed in their opening games in the competition having not been unduly extended to gain back to back wins over St Teresa’s and Glenravel as the South West side failed to raise a single flag in that one sided affair.
The South Belfast side recorded a 5-09 to 0-05 win on the Glen road in the first round and returned to home soil to brush aside the visiting Glenravel aside with the minimum of fuss.
St Brigid’s returned to domestic duty last week when they faced up to the challenge of Cargin at the Harlequin’s venue, and following a thrilling encounter and the addition of twenty minutes extra time they eventually gained progress.
St Brigid’s looked on their way out when they trailed the Toome men by eight points midway through the second half but with the excellent Peter Webb, and Rory Brolly leading the way with some outstanding scores they reeled in their opponents by the end of the sixty minutes.
During extra time the Musgrave Park side showed what they are capable of to race home 1-24 to 1-18 winners.
Peter Webb and minor star Brolly were outstanding in that win over a good Cargin team, and in a side that showed great character James Smith, Finn McKernan, DaraMc Garvey, Ethan Carleton, Conor O’Doherty, Peter King, Michael Cummings and Shane Boyle all impressed.
They will go into the semi-final in confident mood but a strong Rossa side looms large on the horizon.
Rossa will take the field as firm favourites and indeed experience may well prove the key to success for the Shaw’s road men, but they will have to be at their best to gain access to the final as this St Brigid’s side look more than capable of causing an upset.
Lamh Dhearg v St Enda’s
The second semi-final involves the current senior champions, Lamh Dhearg who face Glengormley based St Enda’s and this looks another close affair on paper.
The Hannastown men are aiming to end the current season on a high and looking to make it a double and they will approach this one basking in the glow of ‘mission accomplished’ on the senior front.
They started on the under-21 trail with a win over the visiting Tir na nOg on a scoreline of 1-13 to1-07 in round one, and the worth of that one is underlined by events which were to follow. The Randalstown men picked themselves up after that initial setback and after two excellent wins they have advanced to the under-21 B decider.
Frank Fitzsimmons’s charges followed that opening win over the Whitehill Blues with a trip down to Gort na Mona, and advanced after a tight contest. Lamh Dhearg have a number of ‘seniors’ in their ranks including Domhnaill Nugent, Ryan Stranney, Patrick Mervyn, Pearce Fitzsimmons, Eoin Mc Keown, Ben Rice, and the mercurial Eoin McKeown and look a useful side.
Mark Finnegan raised a healthy nine points in his side’s 0-15 to 1-07 success over the Gorts and the corner forward may well be required to be at his best again in this one.
St Enda’s have certainly impressed in their opening two games and although the Hightown side were tested in both, the strength of the opposition says a lot for the Glengormley men’s credentials.
Creggan, who had been well fancied by more than a few to gain honours in the competition travelled to Glengormley and were tipped to advance in the opening round.
St Enda proved equal to the challenge however and advanced after a titanic struggle, and in a game of the highest quality they crossed the winning line on a winning score of 4-10 to 2-15.
The Hightown side have a strong panel at their disposal including county seniors Peter Healey, and Odhran Eastwood, as well as regular first team regulars like Niall McKeown, Joe Maskey, Ruairi Scott, James Mc Auley and Conal Little and potential was again underlined in their next outing in a trip to Aghagallon.
St Mary’s, containing a number of the side which captured the under-21 title last term were to prove formidable opponents but St Enda’s finished the stronger coming away with a two point victory,0-9 to 0-07.
St Enda’s look strong contenders and although they may well be asked questions by the Lamh’s, the Glengormley side look capable of providing the answers.
