Sunday 10th March at Ballinderry (2.30pm)
Ulster Intermediate League (final)
Tir na nOg Randalstown (Antrim) v St Patrick’s Gortin (Tyrone)
All roads from Whitehill will lead to Ballinderry on Sunday as Tir na nOg cross swords with Tyrone side St Patrick’s Gortin to decide the destiny of the Ulster Intermediate League title.
Tir na nOg had easy passage through the semi-final as their designated opponents, the winners of the Limavady Wolfhounds and Naomh Columba never made it when their quarter final clash was terminated early and both were ousted from the competition.
No appeal to the decision was delivered to Ulster and the Randalstown men were through to the decider.
Tir na nOg have steadily improved as they progressed through Ulster and utilizing the depth of his panel along the way, Damien Hagen has ensured a well prepared panel for domestic affairs in 2019.
The Randalstown side, with more than a few from the successful 2017 under-21 side were only denied promotion to division 1 at the eleventh hour and a last round defeat up at St Brigid’s.
They will be aiming to put such to rights this term and a good run in the Ulster campaign will help them on their way.
They gained in momentum as the Ulster campaign gathered pace, unbeaten in their last three games and a ten point win gained over Derry side Foreglen in the quarter finals underlines wellbeing.
Gortin have also impressed en route to Sunday’s show down and the Tyrone side have also gained in stride as the competition has progressed and latest results would suggest they will enter tomorrow’s final as favourites.
The Red Hand side had an impressive 1-21 to 0-11 victory over St Malachy’s Castledawson in the quarter final and followed up with an equally eye catching 3-15 to 1-09 win against Portadown side Tir na Nog in last week’s semi-final.
Gortin have had a strong influence at Intermediate level in Tyrone for quite a time and although they have only made fleeting appearances in the top grade reports would suggest that they may be on the way back to senior level again.
A good attendance is anticipated in Ballinderry on Sunday (weather permitting) and those in attendance could be treated to a good game of football.
The experienced St Patrick’s will start as firm favourites but Damien Hagen will not be leading his side into action just to gain experience, and indeed the Whitehill Blues may well cause upset.