Ulster Intermediate Club Football Championship semi-final
Antrim champions St. Enda’s aim for a place in the Ulster Intermediate final when they take on Tattyreagh of Tyrone in Saturday’s semi-final at the Athletic Grounds in Armagh as part of a double header which will be preceded by the other semi-final between Mulahoran (Cavan) and Banagher of Derry.
St. Enda’s won their first Antrim title back in October when they defeated Gort na Mona in a good final at Corrigan Park and they followed that success with a win over Doohamlet in their opening Ulster encounter at the same venue.
St Enda’s advanced to the semi-final of the AIB Ulster Intermediate Football Championship and a meeting with Tyrone champions Tattyreagh after defeating Monaghan champions Doohamlet 2-15-3-05.
The Hightown men started the stronger but were pegged back 0-05-1-02 after conceding a soft penalty with Barry McBennett converting for the Monaghan champions.
The Antrim champions responded positively and before the break Kristian Healy shot to the net to give St Enda’s a 1-07-1-02 lead at the break.
Doohamlet made a bright start to the second period as substitute Oisin O’Neill fired home, however St Enda’s responded and looked safe at 1-12-2-05 ahead with ten minutes remaining.
It was game on again as Jamie Walshe fisted to the net to reduce arrears to a point (1-12-3-05) with little over five minutes remaining – but Ruairi Scott settled the nerves late on with his side’s second goal, palming the ball home to give them a 2-15-3-05 win and secure their place in the last four.
The Hightown side played some wonderful football that day but manager Frank Fitzsimmons and his assistant Pat Hughes will be concerned by the fact that they conceded three goals on a day when they were obviously superior to their opponents and it is an issue the former Antrim supremo is likely to have worked on in the build up to Saturday.
What about Tattyreagh?
Fitzsimmons and his management team had a look at Tattyreagh in their win over St. Peters (Armagh) in their quarter-final win at Saturday’s venue and will have no doubt noted that they carry a serious scoring threat in James Darcy and Jarlath McDonagh and the Tyrone champions certainly know how to dig out a win in a tight game.
In their opening game in Tyrone they had two points to spare over Urney St. Columba’s and in the quarter-final two points again separated them from Dungannon. In the semi-final they defeated a good Gortin side 0-11 to 1-7 while they had three to spare over Augher in the final, winning 2-12 to 2-9
Ulster quarter-final report
St.Peter’s (Armagh) 2-13 Tattyreagh (Tyrone) 3-11
Tattyreagh beaten in last year’s Ulster Junior semi-final have continued their remarkable rise with a hugely entertaining win over St.Peter’s in the Athletic Grounds on Saturday 3d November.
The Tyrone side led at the break thanks to goals from James Darcy and Jarlath McDonagh despite Fearghal Moore netting for the Lurgan men.
There was to be a grandstand finish to the game with the ‘Tatts’ surviving a late penalty goal from Shea Geraghty to set up a last four meeting with Naomh Éanna.
St. Enda’s Have the firepower to win.
Tattyreagh will have benefited from their game at the Athletic Grounds and the condition of the Armagh pitch could play a part with a favourable forecast in the days leading up to Saturday’s semi-final and a firm and fast sod would certainly suit the Antrim champions.
They are a very fit team and play an expansive brand of football. During the quarter-final they got men behind the ball in numbers but were excellent at the turn over and quick to hit on the break. Paddy Flood is an experienced keeper who endured a few anxious moments against Doohamlet while Michael McNamee, Joe McAuley and Conan Lyttle backbone a defence who all like to attack when the opportunity arises.
Joe Maskey and Philly Curran form a useful midfield partnership but it is in attack that St. Enda’s have the players to hurt Tattyreagh. Kristian Healey’s electric pace caused endless problems for Doohamlet and Odhran Eastwood, Eoin Nagle, Ruairi Scott and Peter Healey are all serious scoring threats.
Tattyreagh have made great progress this season, having been beaten in last year’s Ulster Junior semi-final but if St. Enda’s can tighten up in defence while continuing to attack at pace then it is the Glengormley men who can advance to the final.
St Enda’s v Doohamlet: P Flood, K Jennings, M McNamee, C Eastwood, C Lyttle (0-01), J McAuley, C McAuley, P Curran, J Maskey (0-02), P Healy (0-02), R Scott (1-01), K Healy (1-02), D Walsh, O Eastwood (0-03f), E Nagle (0-03). Subs: C Ross for C Eastwood, E Gibson for P Curran , C O’Neill for D Walsh, R Kennedy for C Ross.
Odhran Eastwood (14) and Kristian Healey (12) could cause a serious threat to the Tattyreagh defence