PREVIEW: Na Magha go on Ulster trail after a week of sadness
The Derry side are mourning the recent loss of one of their founding members.
Ulster JHC quarter final
Na Magha v Cootehill Celtic (Cavan)
Breffni Park
Sat Nov 27
4.00pm
Ref: Leon Reynolds (Armagh)
Na Magha's preparations for their Ulster JHC quarter final were disrupted last week in the most tragic way possible.
Seán Mellon, one of the club's founders and a man whose influence on hurling in the city has touched almost every club, passed away on Friday.
The senior hurlers were at training when they heard the news, with centre back Breandán Quigley tweeting his condolences afterwards.
“It was with deep sadness I heard of the passing of Seán Mellon, an absolute Titan of hurling and the guardian of hurling in the city,” he said,
“Probably fitting that we were informed of his passing while on the field. It’s oft said, but we really will never see the likes of him again.”
They competed well in this year's Antrim league, reaching the Division 3 semi finals where they were defeated by a strong Cúchullain's Armagh side.
Championship action in Derry though, has proved both frustrating and disappointing.
The frustration stems from the fact the club were denied a chance to compete in a county final following the withdrawal of opponents Eoghan Rua.
The Coleraine side had come through a bruising senior football encounter with Slaughtneil the previous week, and the decision caused anger and frustration in Ballyarnett.
They lost all four group games by an average margin of 14 points, coming closest to Ballinascreen in their final outing, where they lost by nine.
The defeats skew their statistics. They have scored a total of 2-50 (56pts), giving them a scoring average of 11.2 points per game.
At the other end, they have shipped 7-91 (112pts), an average concession per game of 22.4 points.
In comparison, Cootehill have had four championship games, in which they have scored a total of 4-59 (71pts), giving them a scoring average of 17.8 points per game.
A concession of 6-39 (57pts) leaves an average concession of 14.3 points per game.
Na Magha will point in mitigation to the standard of teams they had to play in a group that contained senior runners-up Kevin Lynch's, and there is no doubt the difficulty of the Derry championship is greater.
Half back Fiachra Hughes hit 0-3 for Celtic, while their two goals came from midfielder Oisín Carolan and corner forward James McKay.
For Na Magha, the experienced Breandán Quigley will hope to drive his side on from the heart of defence, while they have a number of pacey forwards who will trouble Cootehill.
Keelan Doherty tortured defences in Antrim all year, while Déaglán Foley, Timothy Rankin and Padraig Nelis all carry an attacking threat.
A 4.00pm throw-in away in Cavan adds another layer of difficulty, but the Derry side are no strangers to adversity, and in a week where they lost a club legend, will be determined to come home with the win.
CHAMPIONSHIP STATS