Ulster IFC quarter-final
All Saints v Derrylaughan – Toome 2-00pm Saturday
It’s been 13 years since All Saints last represented Antrim in Ulster but on Saturday in Toome their long wait will be over.
There was a feeling after that heady campaign in 2011 that saw them defeat St. Monaise of Fermanagh and Drumgoon of Cavan on their way to a semi-final defeat to Culloville of Armagh that it would only be a matter of time before they would be back.
If there is one thing that is certain in Gaelic football it is ‘nothing is certain’ and in the years that followed that 4th Intermediate title eluded the Ballymena men until now.
All Saints finally got over the line this year with a convincing win over St. Teresa’s following defeat to Tir na nOg and Con Magee’s in the 2008 and 2010 deciders.
The appointment of Liam ‘Baker’ Bradley as manager a couple of years ago and his appointment of Declan ‘Honda’ Mullan has been instrumental in developing a strong and enthusiastic panel with a good blend of youth and experience.
Word coming out of the camp is positive with more than 30 players attending training this year and that training has paid dividends.
All Saints were promoted to division 1 this year despite only finishing third in division 2 last year owing to the restructuring of the Antrim leagues and despite playing nearly all their games without their county players, finished third in the top division.
The emergence of young talent which has included Patrick Ferris, Sean O’Callaghan, Ronan McKillop, Michael Read, Cal O’Brien and Ryan Thom amongst others has been a strong factor in this year’s success.
The Ballymena side are complimented by a solid bunch of experienced players, a number who remain regulars since that memorable 2011 run.
Sean McVeigh, Peter McNicholl, Emmet Killough, Michael McCarry, Peter McReynolds, Paddy McAleer and Rory McVeigh were part of that 2011 campaign and are in the frame for selection on Saturday.
The emergence of county players, Conor Stewart, and James McDonnell adds to the selection headache facing Baker Bradley and his backroom team but it is a headache that the Glenullin native will surely relish.
Despite their recent success All Saints will go into Saturday’s meeting with Tyrone champions Derrylaughan as underdogs.
A number of the management team and players were in Omagh last Saturday to see them come from behind to beat Termon of Donegal in a preliminary round and can’t have been anything other than impressed by the Tyrone champions.
Three points separated the sides after 60 minutes in Omagh after Termon had raced into a 1-4 to 0-0 lead after 11 minutes.
Tomas Carney led the Derrylaugan comeback and finished the game with 1-6 to his name so will need careful watching but he is only one of a very potent and experienced side that has Tyrone’s Brian Kennedy leading their charge from mid-field.
A win for Termon would have meant a trip to Donegal for the Ballymena side so there is the consolation of the short journey to Toome and a return to the Erin’s Own ground where they recorded their recent county success.
Derrylaughan will start Saturday’s game as firm favourites but that is unlikely to faze Baker Bradley and his side who will have a big support cheering them on as they aim to launch another successful Ulster run.
What about Derrylaughan?
Ulster IFC Preliminary Round
Derrylaughan 1-11 Termon 1-8
It took Derrylaughan 11 minutes to register their first score in their preliminary round win over Termon at Healey Park on Saturday evening but when they did get going there was no stopping them.
Donegal Champions Termon led by 1-4 to 0-0 at this stage and must have fancied their chances of pushing on to meet All Saints in the quarter-final but they would register only four more points for the remainder of the game as the Tyrone champions came to life.
The Tyrone side had a real match winner in full-forward Tomas Carney, who accounted for 1-6 of his side’s total and in the end, was the difference between the sides.
Connor Hughes got Derrylaughan on the scoreboard on 11 minutes and directly from the kick out Tomas Carney hit a second and it was Carney who would turn this game on its head with a masterful display of score taking.
Carney was to prove his worth again a minute later to cut the lead to four. Termon then had a goal chance but the final pass was over hit while Emmett Maguire in the Termon goal made a great save to deny Danny Ball at the expense of a ’45’ which Carney converted for his third point.
The Derrylaughan number 14 converted a free on 20 minutes and by the 28th minute the Lough shore side were back on terms through Sean Robinson and James Donnelly and were the dominant side.
Half-time Termon 1-4, Derrylaughan 0-7.
Termon briefly threatened to regain control at the start of the second half with John James Sweeney pointing within 30 seconds of the restart and Jack Alcorn adding another on 33 minutes.
Derrylaughan’s came back with a Tomas Carney point from a mark and the same player hit a post with a ’45’ a minute later.
The Tyrone side hit the front on 44 minutes when danger man Carney was on the end of a centre to fist to the net and from the kick out Liam Gervin extended their lead to three points.
Termon were now struggling to get their own game going again and Carney extended their lead from a ‘45’ and Ciaran Gervin added another while Jamie Grant had a point in reply for Termon and in added time Dáire McDaid cut the lead to three but it was Derrylaughan who now move on to meet Baker Bradley’s All Saints in Cargin on Saturday at 2-00pm..
Derrylaughan scorers: Tomas Carney 1-6, 2 ’45s’,1 f, 1m; Liam Gervin, Sean Robinson, Connor Hughes, James Donnelly, Ciaran Gervin 0-1 each.
Derrylaughan v Termon: James Kennedy; Colm O’Hagan, Ciaran O’Hagan, Caoilean Hughes; Liam Gervin, Conor Kennedy, Sean Robinson; Brian Kennedy, Shane Scullion; Connor Hughes, Fergal McAliskey, Danny Ball; James Donnelly, Tomas Carney, Ciaran Quinn. Sub: Ciaran Gervin for S Scullion (41); Liam Cushnahan for C Hughes (44); Mark Robinson for F McAliskey (58)