Ulster Intermediate Hurling Club semi-final
Carey Faughs v Castleblaney Hurling
Pairc Colmcille Carrickmore
Sunday 1-30pm
At the second time of asking ‘Weather Permitting’ Pairc Colmcille will have a familiar feel to Carey Faughs as they make the journey to the Co Tyrone venue for the second time in three weeks to face Castleblaney in this Sunday’s Ulster Intermediate Club Championship semi-final.
Last week’s scheduled game at the same venue was postponed following the death of James Black, father of Faughs player James ‘Rocket’ Black and at the time of writing Sunday’s clash is still scheduled despite a Yellow weather wanrning for the weekend.
Three weeks ago the Ballyvoy men visited the same venue where they took on local side, Carrickmore and avenged a defeated by the same opposition, three years earlier in the opening round of Ulster.
It took penalties to separate Carey and the Tyrone champions after the sides finished level after extra time in an epic struggle.
Two brilliant saves from Carey goalkeeper Steven McGinn during the penalty shoot-out finally decided the issue after the sides had ended level at the end of normal time, and again at the end of extra time, Carey grabbing last gasp points to avoid defeat in both cases.
Conal McGlynn, Caolan McCaughan and Conlith McKinley and Conor McBride were the men who provided the scores to match the local side all the way to that dramatic penalty shootout and will carry their challenge into Sunday’s semi-final.
Steven McGinn has been excellent for the Faughs this season as the last line of defence and has been consistent throughout the Antrim division 2 league and championship campaigns.
In front of him Sean McBride has been a colossus at the heart of a hard working defence where Patrick Gillan and James ‘Rocket’ Black have performed heroically in a solid unit, Black coming up with some excellent scores.
Caolan McCaughan and James McCouaig add strength and experience around mid-field and the Ballyvoy side will travel to the now, familiar, Pairc Colmcille confident that they can advance to the final.
Middletown 1-13 Castleblayney 0-17
In the other semi-final Castleblaney of Monaghan caused an upset when they overcame the challenge of a fancied Middletown of Armagh in the Athletic Grounds, avenging a defeat to the same opponents back in 2021
Castleblaney led for the majority of the game, but when Middletown youngster Rory Grimes buried a 45th-minute goal, it looked like the Armagh champions were going to take control.
Castleblaney stood strong to land the final two scores of the night however, both through Niall Garland, to edge through by the minimum of margins.
The Armagh champions wasted a bagful of chances at the Athletic Ground hitting 16 wides over the course of the game while Castleblaney were much more economical in their finishing.
Niall Garland top scored for the Monaghan side with 0-6 (4f’s) while Thomas Hughes, Declan Hughes and Mark Treanor carried the majority of the Castleblaney scoring threat.
Castleblaney are managed by former Rossa player Tony Austin and —-McManus whose two sons play for St. John’s so they are sure to have some prior knowledge of the Antrim Intermediate champions.
A big crowd followed Carey Faughs to Carrickmore last day out and it should be even bigger on Sunday and in a season where the loss of their talisman ‘We Joe’ Heggarty appears to have galvanised the club, I expect them to advance to the decider.
Castleblayney Scorers v Middletown:N Garland 0-6 (4f); T Hughes 0-4; M Treanor & D Hughes 0-2 each; F Rafter, C McNally & B McGuigan 0-1 each
Carey Faughs v Carrickmore: Steven McGinn, Zach McCaughan, Sean McBride, Patrick Gillan, Michael McVeigh, James Black, Conall McGlynn, Caolan McCaughan, James McCouaig, Conlith McKinley, Conor McBride, John McBride, Shea Hunter, Patrick Butler, Callum Cane. Subs Eoin Hill