This Saturday at 1:00 in Gardrum Park Dromore Antrim champions St. Brigids take on Donegal champions St. Michaels in the semi-final of the Paul McGirr Ulster U16 Club Champions Tournament with a place in the 2014 final against Burren at stake. Both teams are taking part in the tournament for the first time and neither have shown any signs of nerves so far and going on their quarter final performances a very tight encounter is anticipated.
St. Brigids had the tougher quarter final where they come up against an impressive Crosserlough team that featured six members of the Cavan U16 development squad. It was a tight contest where the Antrim champions found themselves trailing going into the final few minutes before a penalty conversion and point from man of the match Peter Webb secured a two point victory. The talented Webb who had a great influence on the game will certainly be one player that the Donegal boys will have to curb and in the Finnegan twins Patrick and Joe St. Brigids have a strong midfield pairing that will provide a constant supply of ball into their forward line. However having conceded 2-09 in the quarter final against a wasteful Crosserlough though, the St. Brigids management team are well aware that their team will have to make defensive improvements. Team trainer Jack Dowling is well aware of the task ahead of them and the improvements needed “We are very relieved to get past the first round against a very strong Crosserlough team. The game could have gone either way at the end had Crosserlough converted their chances. We are looking forward to this Saturday playing Donegal champions who’ll no doubt be a strong outfit will be another huge test for our boys, but one that we are really looking forward to”.
St. Michaels who this year won their first ever Donegal U16 title this season endured a poor start to their quarter final against Tyrone opponents Carrickmore and struggled throughout the first half, but team manager Micky McFadden’s half time pep talk certainly awoke them from the slumber. With midfielder Ciaran McGinley in superb form they dominated the remaining thirty minutes outscoring their opponents by ten points to two, emerging seven point victors.
Full forward Odhran McFadden top scored with six points and will need to be in similar form this Saturday if they are to progress to the Ulster Final. Captain Jamie Hunter at full back was influential also in that second half comeback but he and his defensive colleagues will have to be on their game for the full sixty minutes this time to prevent the prolific St. Brigids forward line from racking up the scores on the scoreboard. St. Michaels though have done their club proud all season and according to manager McFadden they have every belief that this team can create even more history for the club.
“Our club are very proud of our U16 boys who are giving their all in this prestigious tournament. It’s a great honour to represent Donegal at this level. The boys are extremely committed and have been training hard and in a long season with such a small panel that’s not easy. We are looking forward to the semi-final against St. Brigids of Antrim. We are expecting a tough match but we will be hoping to play well and give it our all on the day”. No doubt Jimmy McAlinden’s Burren side will be anxious spectators as they await their final opponents. As usual all proceeds from the game will go to the Spirit Of Paul McGirr Trust for their charity work in Lusaka, Zambia.
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