Northern Switchgear Senior Football Championship (semi-final)

Erin’s Own Cargin v Kickham’s Creggan at St Enda’s @2-45

This second semi-final sees last year’s finalists Cargin and Creggan meet at Hightown and the prospect of a repeat of that thrilling contest should entice a big crowd to St Enda’s.

Cargin edged that one in Portglenone last year to claim their third title in succession and the Toome men will be aiming to get the better of the Kickham’s again while their near neighbours will be hoping to overturn last year’s result.

Both sides played their respective quarter-finals at the same venue last weekend with the reigning champions impressing with a big win at the expense of a St Gall’s side who simply couldn’t live with the Toome side while Creggan gained a narrow 1-08 to 0-08 victory at the expense of St John’s.

St John’s had gained a win over Cargin a few weeks previous in the preliminary stages when the Corrigan men travelled to Toome in need of points and gained the win that saw them advance to the semi-final.

The Corrigan men failed to reproduce that form last weekend but despite their shortcomings it took a stunning late save from Creggan net minder Oisin Kerr to deny Conor Johnston’s late strike that would have sent the game into extra time.

Cargin enter this one with a clean bill of health with only Ronan Gribbin doubtful and a strong bench which has been boosted by members of 2019 and 2020 Minor championship winning sides.

Sean Og O’Neill, Pat Shivers, Sean Og Quinn, Eunan Quinn, Benen Kelly and Paudie McLaughlin have seen plenty of senior action this year and are expected to challenge for a starting place on Sunday.

James Laverty, Justin Crozier, Kevin O’ Boyle, Michael McCann, Kevin McShane, Tomas McCann, Jamie Gribbin and Ciaran Bradley are all likely starters for the Toome side while poacher turned goal keeper, Michael Magill should continue as the last line of defence.

Creggan will look to Oisin Kerr, the Johnston brothers, Ricky and Martin, Ethan Carey Small, the Maguire’s, Sam and Aiden, Jamie McCann, Eunan McAteer, Tommy and Conor McCann and Ruairi McCann to spearhead their challenge.

Jamie McCann scored 1-03 in the win over the Johnnies and he is an excellent wing back who loves getting forward while Ruairi McCann scored 0-7 against the Toome men in the 2020 decider and both would need to be at their best if their side are to revenge that result.

Cargin have a potent attack and Tomas McCann has been in the form of his life this year and caused Creggan massive problems from the start in last year’s final while Paudie McLaughlin has emerged as another serious scoring threat for Erin’s Own.

The reigning champions will start this one as favourites by virtue of their success over the last three campaigns but they are likely to face a stiff challenge from a Creggan side who will be aiming to put last year’s defeat behind them.