Derry Junior Football Championship

Glack v Doire Colmcille

Friday 8pm – Celtic Park

By Orlagh Mullan
THIS encounter involves two teams who are trying to use some testing times as a learning experience.

For the city side, a Neal Carlin Cup meeting at the start of the season saw Glack leave Pairc Colmcille with a 3-24 to no score victory.

Granted, it was an outfit that didn’t involve the sidelined Dean Curran or skipper Dee Watson, but it was still a defeat that hurt to the core of a club who are steadily on the rise.

In contrast John McLaughlin’s men enjoyed months of promising results and impressive football, but defeat to champions Doire Trasna ended their hopes of promotion and a shot at Division Two.

There is little time to feel sorry for themselves.

Just as Colmcille had to do after that March defeat they now are back on the horse again in search of the greatest trophy of them all.

In June the sides met for the second time in Rosemount, and on this occasion it was a little closer, but not by much – 3-12 to 0-5.

But still, it represents progression. It’s a progression that Watson spoke about in pre-season. Doire Colmcille have evolved drastically over the last few years and now they must show it on the pitch.

Not only have those results these season evoked some difficult emotions, but so too their championship exit last year when Richie McGrotty fisted to the net in the dying seconds to give Ardmore a victory that they scarcely deserved.

This first round test will be much, much more difficult than that. But this is the championship – where crazy things can happen.

YOUNG GUNS

One thing that Colmcille will be banking on is the fearlessness of their young players.

Wing backs Michael McColgan and Fearghal McAnaney both played in Ulster finals with their schools this year – so they are not shy of big game experience.

Ryan Morgan is a massive part of what Glack do up top, and if they want to allow him to roam willingly, they will have to ensure there is cover for the inevitable running of the two 18-year-olds.

Currently working in Belfast as a pharmacist, Eamonn Gillen has struggled to keep up his club involvement but as one of Colmcille’s strongest defenders, they will be banking on him against the deadly combination of Jimmy O’Connor and Cormac Boyle who are both terrorising around the square.

In midfield Harry Curran, younger brother of Dean, is a player that is having a breakthrough season at senior level.

He captained St Joseph’s Secondary School to Nolan Cup glory in May – their first provincial title – and now he must lead again against Aaron Moore and Kieran McIntyre.

He won’t be alone with the identifiable figure of Richard Stewart there to get under the high ball.

The man who makes them tick is Dee Watson. Come 9pm he will have covered every blade of grass on the Celtic Park pitch. It will be crucial too, with Luke McLaughlin and Martin McGonigle on the prowl.

As always, Derry U21 man Dean Curran will be the centrefold of the city side’s attack. His left foot is one of the most dangerous in the county, but there is no better man to keep tabs than Eddie McLaughlin.

Glack will be cautious of giving Curran too much attention however, with Mark McIntyre and Diabhead McHugh capable understudies when it comes to getting scores.

Colmcille are a side who know they are not quite ready for a promotion run, so for now they live for a good championship campaign. This opener might be a bridge too far.

VERDICT: Glack

POSSIBLE TEAMS

Glack: JM McLaughlin, Ryan O'Kane, Eddie McLaughlin, Tommy O'Kane, Martin McGonigle, Ciaran O'Brien, Luke McLaughlin, Aaron Moore, Kieran McIntyre, Adam O'Kane, Niall McGowan, Ryan Morgan, Jimmy O'Connor, Cormac Boyle, Paul King.

Doire Colmcille: Mickey Nash, Mickey Molloy, Eamonn Gillen, Eoin O'Neill, Michael McColgan, Ben Smith, Fegal McAnaney, Harry Curran, Richie Stewart, Dee Watson, Joe McCartie, Diabhead McHugh, Eoin McCrossan, Dean Curran, Mark McIntyre.

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