Derrylin should have enough to make final

Brewster Park will play host to two sides who will certainly fancy their chances of making the final of the Intermediate Championship in the first clash of the weekend.

Derrylin will go into the game as slight favourites but they will know that Aghadrumsee showed enough against Brookeboro in the last round that they are a side to be wary of and if given the space they have enough forwards that can cause serious damage to the Derrylin defence.

Aghadrumsee were to get the better of the Brookeboro side in that last round, bagging five goals in a 5-06 to 0-05 victory, and will bring plenty of belief into the semi-final clash. In that game in particular they were to hit the net through five different players in John Joe Strain, Sean McManus, Damien McCarville, Stephen Flynn and Liam Og Strain, it is clear that they carry a potent goal threat while in corner forward Edde Courtney they have a forward to be feared.

The Magpies only conceded three points from play in the opening round victory and will look to the strong defensive partnership at the back which contains the likes of Noel Beggan, Damian Flanagan and Sean McManus. At midfield Ciaran Carey will most likely go for Mark Leonard and Darren Kearns who have blossomed into a strong pairing during the league campaign and any lapses in concentration on Derrylin’s part will be quickly seized upon.

It is in attack though where they are strongest and they will be looking to break down a sturdy Derrylin defence with the versatile Damien McCarville and the pacy Stephen Flynn key performers. Courtney is the most well-known face in the side and he once again will look to add to the 0-02 that he scored in the last round and certainly Aghadrumsee will need a big performance from a player that was part of Pete McGrath’s Fermanagh squad last season.

The teams have met once this year in the league which came way back in April with Derrylin winning that particular league game 1-07 to 1-05.

Derrylin this year are under new management with Donagh clubman Michael Cadden taking the reins from Aidan Shannon. The South Fermanagh club have not won the IFC crown since 1997 and will feel this is one of their best opportunities in the last number of years.

Last season they bowed out of the competition to Irvinestown in the first round, losing by a single point kicked by Stephen Sheridan deep into injury time, 0-10 to 1-6.

In this year’s quarter-final Derrylin came through a tight tussle against Coa to secure their place in the last four. With just over ten minutes to go the O’Connells trailed 1-09 to 1-07 but the introduction of Mark Murphy lifted the side and they finished strongly to claim a two point victory, 1-12 to 1-10.

Derrylin have long serving goalkeeper Eoin Murphy on board with Kevin McCusker and Paul McManus manning the central defensive positions. At wing half back Aaron McGoldrick and Daniel Leonard are two young footballers who are progressing well and both were impressive in the victory over Coa in the last round.

Micheal Shannon at midfield scored 1-01 the last day out and he will be joined by either Pius Martin or Mark Murphy in the middle of the park, the latter hoping to shake off a hamstring injury to take his place in the starting line up.

Derrylin also have quality in the attacking third of the pitch. Barry Murray was excellent against Coa, giving an exhibition of free taking as he finished the game with 0-09, and when you add in the likes of half forward Louis Leonard, Eoin Maguire at full forward and corner forward Cathair Shannon it’s clear to be seen why Derrylin go into the contest as favourites.

I give Aghadrumsee a chance in this game as long as they can keep things tight at the back. However, there is a sense that Derrylin have been bubbling along nicely this year and in Mark Murphy they have a player who brings a great bag of experience and overall know-how. Derrylin should have enough to get the win.

View from the Club Eddie Courtney (Aghadrumsee) “It’s a big chance for both sides to make an Intermediate final so each side will be quietly confident. We know Derrylin are a quality side and have made great progress under the management of Mickey Cadden. At the end of the day we just look at it as another game so we will treat it no different and we have no secrets to give out. We will just work hard and hopefully the result can take care of itself. Derrylin had a real battle with a stern Coa side which will definitely stand to them on Saturday, more so than our own quarter final win over Brookeboro. They have quality players like the two Leonards, Barry Murray and the Shannons and of course Mark Murphy so they are going to be really difficult to beat and we would expect nothing less. It has the makings of a real tight game and hopefully we can get the result to put us into the final.” Barry Murray (Derrylin) “We’re all really looking forward to the game. It’s a game we can definitely win, but it’s up to us as a team to perform on the day. Aghadrumsee will be thinking the same so it’s a draw both sides will be happy to be playing in. We have been training well in recent weeks since the win over Coa, so hopefully we will be ready and we can put in a better performance than what we did against Coa in the last round. We know we need to put in a fully committed performance and we are confident we can do that. Mark Murphy is a massive player to be back in our side. Our captain Louis Leonard and Kevin McCusker are players that always perform to the highest of standards – and then it’s up to players like myself in the forward department to pick off the scores that will hopefully give us the win on the day.”