ULSTER MINOR FOOTBALL LEAGUE
Saturday March 19th @ Noon @ Derrygonnelly
Fermanagh v Antrim
Antrim make the long journey to Fermanagh on Saturday in both sides second league game in group B of the Ulster Minor football league.
The game acts as a dress rehearsal before the same teams meet in Enniskillen on May 15th in the Ulster Championship Preliminary round.
Fermanagh started with a defeat last week away to Donegal so the pressure is on Keith Reilly’s side to get up and running with further tests to come with Tyrone and Derry.
Antrim shocked the football world last week when they defeated a strong Tyrone side, winning in Mallusk 2-10 to 2-5. When one looks back at that game it was Antrim’s second half performance which really took special attention as the Saffron’s went in at half time losing 2-4 to 0-1.
Antrim attackers Kevin Small and Niall McKeown will give Fermanagh plenty of headaches, while Patrick McCormick lined out for St Patrick’s Maghera on Thursday in the MacRory Cup Final and another Antrim minor was jubilant on St Patrick’s Day with Joe Finnegan lining out for RBAI in the rugby Schools Cup Final as they defeated Campbell College, 13-3.
Fermanagh will know that Antrim minors have had a hoodoo affect on them over the past couple of seasons, while last year in the league the sides played out a draw in Glenavy, 0-12 to 1-9.
Last week Reilly will have been happy with his defence with Shane McGullion being the standout figure and goalkeeper Gary Doherty had a fine hour with the Belcoo man pulling off 4 fantastic saves. At midfield Fermanagh were to prove to be dominant against the Tir Chonaill boys and with Tiarnan Bogue in a rich vein of form up front he will hope to continue that run. Colm Jones (pictured) looked lively last week when introduced and he will be pushing hard for a start on his own clubs ground while Tempo’s Lorcan McStravick will be keen to see action after missing last weeks clash due to being sick.
A close game awaits and with home advantage Fermanagh should feel confident of getting 2 points on the board.
Mark Dorrian of Donegal will referee the game.
