By Kevin Herron 

BREDAGH coach Paul O’Reilly insists that his side have regrouped since their penalty shoot-out victory over Southern Gaels in the quarter-final of the FonaCAB Ulster Minor Tournament at St Pauls. 

It’s been four weeks since the Belfast club and their semi-final opponents Clontibret of Monaghan tasted victory in their respective last-eight encounters on the 22nd of November when the tournament began at Colaiste Feirste. 

The duo will lock horns on the Shaws Road tomorrow afternoon looking to be the first team to book their place in the annual New Years Day decider. 

O’Reilly got to cast an eye over their semi-final opponents hours before his side went into battle, but admits his players didn’t as they wanted to avoid any distractions ahead of their evening encounter. 

“We tried to get down to watch Clontibret, but we didn’t want the guys to get too ahead or distracted with our game in the evening” he admitted. 

“We‘ve regrouped. We’ve had four weeks since the quarter-final. We’ve regrouped, watched videos, talked and we’ve got back out training and we’ll go for it on Sunday”. 

Reflecting on their dramatic shoot-out victory, O’Reilly believes the group showed their character that they’ve displayed as far back as Feile back in U-13. 

“It was a titanic game and two good teams that left everything out there on the pitch” he reflected. 

“It’s a pity it goes to penalties but I can see why it goes to penalties on the night. We were just delighted to get over the line. 

“We’ve shown character all along. In the semi-final in Down against Carryduff it was level, they looked like they might come across and win it and we got the winning point right at the very end. 

“We know the boys have had the character, they have always had that character from Feile right from U-13 and they showed it in the quarter-final. They are a great crowd of guys”.