Enniskillen Gaels minors will go in search of a place in the Ulster Minor Club Championship final this Sunday when they take on Down champions Burren at St. Paul’s Belfast (1.30pm).
The Gaels over came Cavan side Crosserlough in the quarter-finals but manager John Reihill is expecting a massive challenge when they face the Mourne side.
Burren lifted the U16 Ulster Club title two years ago and Reihill was impressed with what he saw when he watched them defeat Antrim’s Dunloy last Sunday.
“They are a well drilled team who are very big down the middle with a couple of famous Down names in their ranks. They would also have a dangerous forward line so we know that we are going to have to be at our best on Sunday,” said Reihill.
The win over Crosserlough saw the Gaels make it through to the provincial semi-final for the second time in a row having lost to a quality St. Eunan’s Letterkenny outfit in the last four last year, and Reihill says that the goal is to go one step further this time around.
“Last year we got to the semi-finals and it would be nice if we could go that bit further this year and that will be our goal. This year’s team though is very different to last year with the vast majority of this side underage again next year,” he added.
Enniskillen cruised through the Fermanagh Championship, defeating Irvinestown in the final and Reihill feels that the win over the Cavan champions will have brought his side on after a long gap between the county final and the provincial championship.
“The Crosserlough game was out first competitive game in about four months and confidence would be a big thing coming out of it. We know though that it is all about performance and hopefully we will be able to get a performance on Sunday,” he added.
Reihill has a couple of injury concerns ahead of Sunday’s encounter with Timmy Boyd still doubtful having missed the quarter-final while Darragh Keaney is also a doubt.
However, there is no doubt that the Gaels will still possess plenty of quality in their ranks as they go looking to make an Ulster final.
Paddy Cassidy and Aaron Nolan are key men in the full back line while Johnny Cassidy, Nathan Tierney and Brandon Horan make up a physical and imposing half back line. Eoin Beacom and Darragh Keaney, if passed fit, have formed a good understanding in the middle of the park while the Gaels also carry a big scoring threat.
Conall Quinn brings guile and an eye for a score and he is ably assisted by the likes of John Reihill, Callum Jones and Ronan Quinn.