Tyrone County Final Previews

LADIES FOOTBALL

Patrick Fahy and Co Solicitors Senior Football Final

Killyclogher Saturday 6pm

St Macartan’s V Killeeshil.

St Macartan’s are raging hot favourites to collect an eighth Tyrone ladies senior football title this Saturday as they face Killeeshil appearing in their first senior decider. The underdogs though are comfortable determined and focused, certainly with the belief in their own ability that they can end a remarkable unbeaten run by the Clogher Valley side.

The St Marys captain Claire Hegarty is delighted to take her side to the final  but is quick to point out that they are here to do business “ We are happy to be in a first senior final and know what we are up against , it will be a great occasion but we are not just making up the numbers, we will have a real go, the Macartans are a quality team “

Killeeshill beat Clann na nGael and Sperrin Og as they booked their place , Grainne Rafferty’s scored a late goal against a fancied Sperrin Og in the quarter final , enough to get them over the line while in the semi-final against Clann they had a more comfortable outing, nine points the difference with Shannon Stevenson, Chloe Collins and Catriona McGahan all scoring goals,.Catriona  McGahan’s experience will be vital if Killeeshil are to cause an upset, they have plenty of others too that can step up Lisa Marie Skeffington, midfielders Rebecca Loughran, Vanessa Doyle and skipper Hegarty bring years of experience and quality to the side

Claire Scullion , the Stevenson sisters and county star Rafferty have enjoyed underage success in the past and all are potential match winners.

Saturday will see Macartan’s in a 13^th senior final and they certainly have the pedigree to annex the Kerr cup again, a narrow loss last year at the hands of Errigal was avenged at the semi-final stage, they had already seen off other big hitters, Aodh Ruadh and Carrickmore , no one has been close to them this term, yes Errigal rallied in the latter stages of the semi-final but really Ryan McMenamins side were rarely troubled.

Losing last year has been the driving force that lured McMenamin back for another stint

“Conor and myself decided to come back for another year and I have to say it has been worth it, there has been determination and a belief with thses girls  all year, they have done everything we have asked and they deserve to be here, somehow I manage to fit in my own playing with Dromore and St Macs all in, it’s all worth it, the Dromore management have been great”  Mc Menamin needs no motivation ahead of Saturdays outing, captain of the side is Cathy Donnelly and she admits getting back here was the target,  “We were determined to get back to the final, losing last year was hard to take but we sat down and refocused, everyone wanted to get back, Ryan and Conor agreed to stay on and we have worked hard since, there’s a real buzz in the side, we want to win that eighth title”

Donnelly is one of a handful of thirty somethings in  the Macartan’s side, they have been around for over a decade, Lynda Donnelly, Maura Mc Menamin, Clare Woods, Deirdre McCarroll, Maria and Joline Donnelly and Shauna McGirr remain the pivotal characters. They are in some company though with a handful of fresh face youngsters already making a name for themselves, among them Chloe McCaffrey. The seventeen year old  has proved to be one of Tyrone and Ulster footballs most exciting young forwards. Joline Donnelly has chipped in with 3-13 in the championship so far in this campaign, McCaffrey has scored 5-10 leaving her on course for the Teamtalkmag.com golden boot, McCaffrey is an exceptional talent while  Tara Meave McCarroll and Slaine McCarroll have also been on target this term

They are not alone either and there are plenty of other youngsters in this squad, a squad described after the loss last year as a team too old to make an impact again.

 “We have been involved in youth finals in the recent past, a lot of the girls know what it’s like to win, we have a great mix within the squad and that coupled with the belief we have will give us a real chance, the management and everyone has worked hard, we certainly have the players to win this.” Claims captain Hegarty as her side prepare for this first senior outing.

JUNIOR FOOTBALL FINAL.

Patrick Fahy and Co Junior Football Final

Killyclogher Saturday 4pm

Coalisland V Mna Na Deirge

The Fianna girls will face a stern test on Saturday as try and get their hands on the Brenda Logue cup, between them and the silverware are a battling Castlederg side that have an array of talented players who could see them over the line for a first title.

Yet between the two teams on show, one of the oldest and experienced players involved will play a key role for Coalisland, Mum of five Lynette McShane, better known perhaps in football circles as Hughes joined the Fianna this year after a lifetime of service to Carrickmore. She has twelve senior championship medal’s winning her first as a youngster with Carmen in 1992, do the maths, she wasn’t even ten year old.

Lynette scored 1-5 in their semi-final win over Edendork, they already beat Aghaloo and neighbours Clonoe on route, the McShane influence will give them a real boost. That said they are far from a one woman team, Niamh McKernan remains a real  scoring threat while Laura Campbell and Orla Rafferty bring a solid look at the back “We have a good combination alright” claims McShane, “The girls have worked hard and they have been focused, they deserve to be in the final but it won’t be easy”

Saturdays double bill will mark the 25^th anniversary of ladies football in the county and Tyrone gaels will be joined by Ladies President Marie Hickey and Ulster President Michael Naughton with several presentations planned to mark the occasion.

A team of 25 selected to represent the pick of Tyrone’s senior football squad over the 25 years since 1991 has been selected and will be named while the first champions, that Carrickmore team of 1992 will also be introduced.

TOP SCORERS

It appears that the destination of the 2016 Golden Boot sponsored by Teamtalkmag.com meanwhile will be decided on Saturday and Tyrone lady football followers wouldn’t want it any other way. Macartan’s young forward Chloe McCaffrey is leading ahead of the final, but that great servant of the Macartan’s and Tyrone Joline Donnelly is only three points shy of her team mate. It makes for an interesting afternoon as both are more than capable of getting crucial scores. The Macs have of course played a game more than today’s opponents whose nearest challenger for the golden boot accolade is Shannon Stevenson who has 2-5 leaving her level with St Macartan’s captain Cathy Donnelly with 1-8.

Errigal stars Lycrecia Quinn and Maria Canavan turned in a fine tally between them in their two games. Shannon Monaghan from Errigal claimed the inaugural award last year with 5-6 (21points)

Chloe McCaffrey St Macs          5-10 (25)

Joline Donnelly  St Macs            3-13 (22)

Lycrecia Quinn Errigal                2-12 (18)

Maria Canavan Errigal               2-8  (14)

Cathy Donnelly St Macs            1-8 ( 11)

Shannon Stevenson Killeeshill   2-5 (11)

Grainne Rafferty Killeeshil         1-4 ( 7 )

Ciara Donnelly Killeeshill           0-7  (7)

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SENIOR ROLL OF HONOUR

1992 Carrickmore

1993 Galbally

1994 St Macartan’s

1995 Carrickmore

1996 St Macartan’s

1997 Carrickmore

1998 St Macartan’s

1999 Carrickmore

2000 Aodh Ruadh

2001 Carrickmore

2002 Carrickmore

2003 Carrickmore

2004 Carrickmore

2005 Carrickmore

2006 Carrickmore

2007 Errigal Ciaran

2008 Carrickmore

2009 St Macartan’s

2010 St Macartan’s

2011 St Macartan’s

2012 Errigal Ciaran

2013 Carrickmore

2014 St Macartan’s

2015 Errigal Ciaran

Carrickmore 12

St Macartans 7

Errigal Ciaran 3

Aodh Ruadh 1

Galbally Oonagh Celts 1