A semi-final clash to savour at the Cran

Editorial Department • Published 11 Mar 2010 11:42 0 Comments

Share this

Face off..... Enniskillen and Clogher Valley will go head to head this week.

The Cran will be the place to be on Saturday afternoon when Skins and Clogher Valley clash for a place in the Towns' Cup final. It promises to be quite a game, quite an occasion and quite a semi-final.

With home advantage, more points in the league and better form of late, Clogher will no doubt go into the game as favourites but that will suit Skins down to the ground and as always, form will count for little when put into the potent mix of a cup semi-final and local derby. Respective coaches Allister Keys, Enniskillen and Davy Black, Clogher Valley were giving little away ahead of the clash.

Indeed, the two coaches only came into their posts halfway through the season when both clubs made changes at the helm.

It's been a topsy turvy year for Skins and they are still immersed in a relegation battle and had a tough couple of weeks with defeats to Dromore, City of Derry and Armagh since defeating Donaghadee in the quarter-final. Coach Keys says nothing but the best will suffice come Saturday.

"There is no doubt about it we will have to be at our best to win and I agree we go there as underdogs given that Clogher have home advantage. But it is a cup semi-final and I would expect a tight game and hopefully it will be a great game and sporting occasion. There should be a good crowd at the Cran and we are looking forward to it," explained Allister. Skins will be without the injured duo of Gareth McCoy who broke his hand against Dromore and Gareth Beatty who has a shoulder injury.

On the other side of the Fermanagh border, Davy Black is relishing the prospect of a top class semi-final against local rivals just six weeks after taking over as coach. Clogher enjoyed a win over Donagahdee in their Junior Cup replay on Saturday and have another cup semi-final to look forward to irrespective of what happens on Saturday.

"We have competition for places with some players coming back with James Bates and Ali Breen available again, so it was good to win on Saturday and everyone is looking forward to the game. I suppose both clubs would have preferred to have met in the final but it is what it is and I just hope whoever wins goes on and does the business in the final. The local derby angle does add a bit extra spice and we will have to rise to the challenge, there is no doubt about that. Hopefully it will be a good game, it clashes with the Ireland v Wales game but hopefully the local rugby public will come out and watch the big game."

The action starts at the Cran at 2.30pm and is sure to continue at full steam until the final whistle.

This article appeared in Impartial Reporter 11 Mar 10

Return to the main index, get more from this section or browse our Sport archives.