Ulster Club Intermediate Football Championship Semi-Final
Doohamlet v Cookstown, Sunday, 2.30, Enniskillen
Doohamlet have a second Ulster Club IFC Final in three years in their sights ahead of Sunday’s clash with Cookstown.
Doohamlet reached the decider two years ago when they lost narrowly to eventual All-Ireland winners Lisnaskea, while Cookstown have plenty of experience of this competition; having won Ulster and All-Ireland titles three years ago.
Doohamlet have six straight championship wins under their belt this year. Having seen off Inniskeen, Seán McDermotts, Rockcorry and Cremartin to reach the Monaghan final, where they edged out Tyholland, the O’Neills produced one of their best performances to date in dismissing the challenge of Cavan high-flyers Lacken in their Ulster quarter-final. Cookstown also secured a quick return to senior football by holding off all challengers for the Tyrone IFC. They beat Augher, Loughmacrory and Rock to reach the final, where they needed a replay to get the better of Eskra. Cookstown also look to be hitting form in time for Ulster, judging by their emphatic replay win against Eskra and their comfortable defeat of Armagh’s Killeavy last time out.
Doohamlet have scored 5-71 in their six championship matches – an average of 14.33 points – while their concession of 5-42 works out at just 9.5 points per game. Cookstown have 6-51 to their name from six matches, conceding 4-36, giving them an average winning margin of over four points (11.33 to eight).
Doohamlet will once again look to Colin Walshe to continue his impressive form at the heart of their defence, which has been very hard to break down, with the support of the likes of Martin Hughes, Gabie Casey, Darren Connolly and Kevin McArdle. Ciarán McManus (who is available after getting booked twice against Lacken) and Greg Duffy should resume their midfield partnership, while Paul McArdle looks to have given Dessie McBennett a boost by declaring his fitness to lead the attack. Doohamlet’s top marksman should be joined on the scoresheet by Ted Duffy, Niall Connolly and Shane McManus if this is to go Doohamlet’s way.
Cookstown have an instantly recognisable star in Owen Mulligan, who captains the team from full-forward, but it isn’t a one-man show, with James McGahan, Ryan Pickering, John Gilmore, Conor Mullan, Shea McGarrity and Barry Mulligan in their ranks, although they have lost former Tyrone player Raymond Mulgrew from their successful 2009 team through emigration.
This looks like a finely balanced semi-final, which will produce the favourites to win the final. Doohamlet need to keep it tight and at least replicate their performance against Lacken if they are to take another step towards making up for 2010.
Doohamlet IFC scorers 2012: Paul McArdle 0-22 (16f, 1 ‘45); Mark Murphy 1-11; Shane McManus 2-6; Ted Duffy 0-11 (9f); Greg Duffy 1-3; Niall Connolly, Colin Walshe 0-4 each; Kevin McArdle, Ciarán McManus 0-3 each; Glen Comiskey 1-0; Ollie Hughes 0-2; Philip Mone, Stephen Gilsenan 0-1 each
Ulster Club Junior Football Championship Semi-Final
Drumhowan v An Port Mór, Sunday, 12.45, Enniskillen
Drumhowan will attempt to return to the Ulster Club JFC Final when they take on Armagh champions An Port Mór in Sunday’s semi-final.
Drumhowan, who won this competition in 2008 before being edged out by Skellig Rangers from Kerry in the All-Ireland semi-finals, subsequently went up to senior before dropping straight back to junior. They have bounced back this year, defeating Feargal O’Hanlons, Éire Óg, league winners Clones and a fancied Emyvale side in the championship to regain the Packie Boylan Cup. Drumhowan also showed character to come from six points behind and pip Downings from Donegal to get their Ulster campaign off and running. An Port Mór, based in Blackwatertown near the Tyrone border, defeated Annaghmore by three points in the Armagh final and they picked up a notable result last time out when ending Down side Dundrum’s unbeaten 2012 run.
Drumhowan are set to be without Darren Duffy, who suffered a bad shoulder injury against Downings, but they will be able to call on most of the players who have led them to this stage. Colm Lambe will once again be expected to provide the bulk of the scores, with Kieran and Kevin Mooney, David Millar and Michael Atkinson also likely to chip in. Anthony Mulligan and Kieran McElroy will line out at midfield, with Niall Mooney, John Paul O’Neill and Paddy Mulligan assuming more responsibility in the absence of Duffy. An Port Mór have a real leader in triple All-Ireland medallist Colin Holmes and they will also need the likes of Shane Nugent, David Curran and Christopher Lennon.
These teams met back in 2006 (a narrow win for Drumhowan), but much has changed since then, particularly in the mid-Monaghan club, who have seen a large turnover of players in the meantime. Drumhowan should still have enough in the tank to secure a return to the big stage.
Drumhowan JFC scorers 2012: Colm Lambe 4-23 (0-18f); Ciarán Deery 3-7; Michael Atkinson 2-7; Anthony Mulligan 2-3; Kevin Mooney 0-9; Conor Duffy 1-1; Aidan Duffy, David Millar 0-4 each; Niall Mooney, Kieran McElroy 0-3 each; Kieran Mooney 0-2; Brendan Duffy, Darren Duffy, Paddy Mulligan, Enda Duffy (’45) 0-1 each
All-Ireland Club Ladies Senior Football Championship Semi-Final
Donaghmoyne v Shelmaliers, Sunday, 1.30, Hollymount
Donaghmoyne will be favourites to book their place in another All-Ireland Club SFC Final when they face Shelmaliers of Wexford in Hollymount, Co Mayo on Sunday.
Having completed a ten-in-a-row of Monaghan titles this year, Donaghmoyne also extended their dominance of the Ulster championship, although they had to come from behind to defeat Termon of Donegal in the provincial final. Donaghmoyne have two All-Irelands to their name from 2006 and 2009, so they are targeting a third in seven years. Shelmaliers are themselves twice All-Ireland champions, but their titles came back in 1996 and 1999. They returned to the big stage by winning the Leinster final against Dublin’s Foxrock-Cabinteely.
All-Star forward Cathriona McConnell has been in free-scoring form for Donaghmoyne, who have also seen Sharon and Joanne Courtney, Amanda Casey and Eileen McElroy play key roles. Kate Kelly, Clara Donnelly, Deirdre McMahon and Kellie Kearney will need to be at the top of their game if they are to cause an upset. Donaghmoyne look poised for another final appearance.
All-Ireland Club Ladies Junior Football Championship Semi-Final
Donaghmoyne B v Boherbue, Saturday, 1.30, Donaghmoyne
Donaghmoyne’s second team will attempt to kick off what could be a historic weekend for the club in Saturday’s All-Ireland JFC semi-final at home to Boherbue.
It is a truly remarkable achievement from Donaghmoyne to get two teams into Ulster finals in one year, as they took the spoils in Monaghan by bettering Seán McDermotts before defeating Strabane of Tyrone, Milford from Donegal and Armagh outfit Silverbridge in Ulster. They are up against a higher class of opposition on Saturday when Boherbue make the journey north, as the Cork side will be full of confidence in the wake of their comprehensive Munster final win over Stradbally of Waterford.
Niamh Callan, Gina McGowan, Róisín Finnegan and Áine McElroy should be to the fore for Donaghmoyne, while Boherbue’s hopes lie mainly on the shoulders of Julie Dennehy, Beatrice Casey, Sinéad Browne and Claire O’Connor.
Donaghmoyne have momentum and home advantage, which will be a help but, like any Cork team, Boherbue will provide a stern test.
By michael Sat 17th Nov
