Paul McGirr Cup quarter-final
O’Donovan Rossa (Antrim) v Carrickmacross (Monaghan)
Dromore 2-15 (Saturday)
O’Donovan Rossa carry the hopes of Antrim into tomorrow’s McGirr Cup quarter-final when they take on Carrickmacross of Monaghan. These games are always difficult to predict but Rossa look to have the firepower and knowhow to win tomorrow’s game and give the tournament a real lash.
The Shaw’s Road side are no strangers to the McGirr tournament having won the cup back in 2011 and were beaten in the 2015 final. After an indifferent Antrim league campaign Rossa came good in the Antrim championship, beating league winners Aghagallon in the opening round before piping All Saints, Ballymena by the narrowest of margins in the quarter-final.
Bill Kelly’s side were pushed to the wire that night at Rossa Park but showed just how good they were when they travelled to Aghagallon in the semi-final and recorded a resounding 1-14 to 0-7 win over a descent Erin’s Own to send them through to a final meeting with St. Ergnat’s Moneyglass.
Moneyglass had raised a few eyebrows as they came through the other side of the draw but were there on merit with wins over St. Brigid’s and Sarsfield’s but despite a strong performance they were forced to succumb to a superior Rossa in the final.
Michael McDade scored 1-3 from mid-field in that Antrim final and with Ruaidhri Murray gives Rossa a strong mid-field platform. Barry McBurney and James Boyle are strong in defence while team captain, Barry McCaffrey and Liam Carry are the danger men in a potent attack.
Carrickmacross played their football in Monaghan at U15 with Monaghan changing their grades in a move that is likely to be ratified by Croke Park across the country. They have added a number of U16’s to their panel for tomorrow’s opener in Dromore.
In Jack and Fionan Carolan in defence, Daragh and Cian Conlon at mid-field and the prolific Dualta Honney in attack Rossa will face a stern challenge. Honney scored 1-6 in the Monaghan final against Magheracloone and will need some watching but Rossa look to have the players who can see them through to a place in the semi-final.