Pauric McGurn assesses both sides in-depth ahead of Sunday's big game Derrylin v Inniskeen Sunday, 12.45pm @ Healy Park, Omagh With just 15 seconds of the two minutes of injury time to play in Crossmaglen on Sunday November 2 the ball was worked up to wing half back Aaron McGoldrick who struck the sweetest point the youngster may ever kick and from that Derrylin went into extra time full of confidence which saw them defeat St Paul’s of Lurgan, 2-10 to 0-15.

This Sunday the Derrylin side now tackle an Inniskeen team who are a formidable side and once again Derrylin will come into the game with the underdog’s tag. There may be 54 miles between the two footballing sides on the map but on Sunday they will challenge for the right to contest the 2014 Ulster Club Intermediate final.

Derrylin Derrylin were to start off slowly in the first victory over Coa, before dispatching Aghadrumsee with nine points to spare. The final against Maguiresbridge saw Derrylin go into the contest as 4/1 outsiders but the Mickey Cadden led side started off tremendously well with points coming from Barry Murray, Eoin Maguire and now Aussie departed Donal McAvinue before a perfectly struck goal from Eoin Maguire gave Derrylin a 1-04 to 0-02 half time lead. Derrylin’s Eoin Maguire swept in a second goal in the 38th minute and although Derrylin defender Paul McManus was to pick up a black card Derrylin had still done enough to win 2-07 to 1-09 to spark off wild scenes of jubilation.

The defeat of St Paul’s Lurgan was all down to strength and a determination. The loss through black cards in the second half to Pius Martin, Eoin Maguire and Micheal Shannon would upset any side but Derrylin called upon players like Kieran Maguire, Damien Cassidy and Mark Shannon to see the Derrylin team over the winning line in a dramatic 20 minutes of extra time.

Eoin Murphy will once again be between the sticks for Derrylin as he goes into battle and he is a safe and reliable goalkeeper who provides an excellent range of kick outs.

In defence Paul McManus, Colin Lunney, Aaron McGoldrick and Louis Leonard are all expected to lead the defence with Derrylin also hoping to be able to call upon experienced defender Kevin McCusker who missed the victory over St. Paul’s due to a quad muscle injury.

Louis Leonard has been in superb form during the Fermanagh championship and the fact that he is also so adaptable could also see him picked in the forward division but he is most likely to be giving the wing half back position which can see him dictate his defence superbly.

At midfield Micheal Shannon is turning into a real class act which has earned him a call up to the Fermanagh squad for the McKenna Cup while also Mark Murphy’s presence and experience alone to his side cannot be underestimated.

The attack for Derrylin has seen them score heavily in this year’s championship with the 2-16 over Aghadrumsee being the best this year for the O’Connell’s, Barry Murray who kicked 0-07 (0-06 from frees) against St Paul’s will once again be crucial for his side from placed balls. Eoin Maguire was well curtailed in the opening victory over St Paul’s but he will still have a huge part to play on Sunday. Other forwards such as Pius Martin, Daniel Leonard and Cathair Shannon will all look to chip in with scores and all have been hugely impressive this season as Derrylin lifted a first Intermediate title since 1997. Throw in players such as Fearghal Shannon and Patrick Dolan who were superb against St Pauls and it’s clear Mickey Cadden has a squad filled with promising and exciting footballers who will give everything for their team.

Inniskeen The Monaghan side were to claim the 2005 Ulster Intermediate championship against Glenswilly (2-05 to 0-10) before going onto claim All Ireland glory in early 2006. The side is now managed by Alan O’Neill who is in his second year in charge of the Grattan’s club. Last weekend they were defeated by Donaghmoyne 0-11 to 0-10 in the Monaghan Division Two league semi-final but still had star forward Paul Meegan in scintillating form kicking 0-08.

They were to have a straightforward run to the Monaghan IFC with wins over Sean McDermott’s (1-11 to 0-5), Clones (2-11 to 0-12) and a semi-final victory over Corduff (1-14 to 1-8). The final was an edgy and hard fought encounter against local rivals Donaghmoyne. Paul Meegan was to be the match winner in which he was also to pick up the man of the match award, the sides were level at half time and on three more occasions in the second half before Meegan’s seventh point, his only from play, proved to be the winning score for Inniskeen.

Inniskeen were to get the better of Cavan’s Cootehill in Clones in the Ulster club quarter-final in a game that the Monaghan side came back from a half time deficit of 1-03 to 0-04. The second half started with both sides hitting point for point with large periods of the contest riddled with individual errors. Ronan Meegan converted a 59th minute equaliser before captain fantastic Matthew McKenna stepped up with a mammoth long range point from play to win it right at the full time whistle.

Goalkeeper Pauric Dowdall is an experienced shot stopper who has only conceded three goals in five championship games and is also an excellent hurler for Inniskeen playing at full back.

The defence is backboned by a solid full back in Anthony Keenan and team captain Matthew McKenna manning the number six jersey but can also play further up field which often sees Colm Meegan dropping back into the half back line. Midfielders Gerard McArdle who played for Monaghan this year will line up alongside Fergal Duffy who both give the Grattan’s huge strength and physicality around the middle of the field.

In attack Inniskeen are hugely dependent on their full forward line of Paul, Ronan and Donal Meegan, who have between them accounted for more than 80 per cent of their championship scores to date, with eldest brother, Paul who his lethal on his left foot, averaging almost 0-09 per game this year.

Conclusion Inniskeen have scored 4-58 in their five championship games so far (14 points per game), while conceding 3-39 (9.6 points per game). Derrylin’s scoring statistics are little higher but with a game less played, with their 7-45 in four games working out at 16.5 points scored per game and their concession rate standing at 13.25 points per game (4-41 in total).

Both sides possess quality forwards that will need to be seriously watched on Sunday. Barry Murray of Derrylin has thus far this year struck 0-23 in the four games while team mate Eoin Maguire has recorded 4-05 in the three Fermanagh championship games. Inniskeen’s Paul Meegan is a serious talent and has already struck scores such as 0-09, 1-07 and 0-07 in Inniskeen’s championship games this year. Meegan has already performed highly for Monaghan in recent seasons and if he can be shackled by Derrylin it will prove to be a major boost to their chances.

There is no doubt Derrylin have the talent within their ranks and come Sunday they can always be taken to raise their game when they need to. Inniskeen are known for playing a terrific blend of exciting football which has seen them top the Monaghan Intermediate league this season. They have the players to really trouble Derrylin but it all comes down to whether they can perform on the day. It could still very well come down to whatever defence holds the respective attacks the better and if Derrylin can tighten up in that rearguard then they can book their place in a first ever Ulster club final.

Prediction - Derrylin