Ulster Club Junior Hurling Championship

Con Magees Glenravel v Truagh Gaels (Monaghan)

Pairc Mhuir, Cushendall – Sunday 2nd Nov – Throw-in – 1-30 pm

Truagh Gaels were beaten in the Monagahan Senior Hurling final six weeks ago when they lost out to Castleblaney, a team well known to the Con Magees who played them in the quarter final of the Ulster when they won the Antrim Junior Hurling title back in 2014. It is fair to say that most Glenravel fans back then would have fancied the Con Magees to come out on top that day, but they got a rude awakening when the Blaney men showed just how accomplished they were. Two years later another Antrim team fell to the Monaghan champions when Cushendun lost out by a point to the Blaney men in the Ulster Junior final at Armagh Athletics ground.

While Truagh came up short against Blaney in the Monagahn  final, the point I am trying to make is that Glenravel will do well not to take anything for granted on Sunday when they face Truagh in Cushendall. Something that will stick to Truagh is that they had a game last weekend when they beat Tyrone champions Omagh St Enda’s in the preliminary round in Truagh by 2-11 to 0-11. One good thing about that tie is that Glenravel get ‘home’ advantage for Sunday’s game, while the Monaghan men face a 90 mile journey down into the glens.

Neill ‘Vic’ McCann, who manages the Con Magees team along with Cormac Scullion and Hugh McCann, travelled down to Truagh for their game against Omagh and are well aware of the challenge posed. The also watched the Monaghan final on Clubber so they have seen Sunday’s opponents in two different games which will help highlights their strengths and weaknesses.

It has been four weeks since the Glenravel men beat Armoy in the Antrim final in a game played in terrible conditions in Ballycastle. The Con Magees were emphatic winners that night but they have gone a long time without another knock-out game. Ironically they have played Castleblaney in a challenge game two weeks’ ago which should raise their sharpness ahead of Sunday and according to the management they have a clean bill of health ahead of the game.

Playing just down the road in Cushendall should be an advantage for the Con Magees, but it will not win them the game, but if they can turn in a display anything like they did when beat Armoy in Antrim final they should get over the line.