Ulster Junior Football Championship Semi Final
Sunday November 13th @ 2.30pm
Newtownbutler v Rock (Tyrone) @ Clones
Referee – Niall McKenna (Monaghan)
Newtownbutler make the short 5 mile journey to Clones on Sunday and come up against 4/11 favourites Rock in an eagerly awaited Ulster Club Junior Championship Semi Final.
The Tyrone side have won this competition twice (2014 and 2007) while they came through the Preliminary round in this year’s competition with a solid victory over Antrim side Con Magee before a huge 4-12 to 0-7 victory over Cavan side Cornafean at the Quarter Final stage.
Newtownbutler have reason for optimism though even if many in the media are predicting a Rock victory. The Vinny Connolly (pictured) managed side came through some serious battles in the Fermanagh Club Championship and although losing to Belnaleck in the first Semi Final they came back superbly to defeat Aghadrumsee at a second semi final stage and then defeated Belnaleck when it really mattered, in the Final.
The Newtownbutler side got the better of Down side Drumgath, 1-15 v 1-9 in the Ulster Championship Quarter Final, while on that day players like Jarlath Jackman, Ryan Carson and Brendan McBrien excelled.
Rock are a well known side, with big towns such as Dungannon and Cookstown beside them and with former Tyrone great Ciaran Gourley who collected three All Ireland titles in the team then the small East Tyrone based club are known very well.
Rock have a strong defensive unit and with Gourley in midfield and hotshot attacker Aidan McGarrity in the forwards then it is clear why this Rock side have been so dominant in Tyrone and Ulster over the past number of years.
Next season both sides will enter Intermediate Football Championship within their Counties but the quest to secure an Ulster Junior Football Championship makes for a terrific opportunity for Ulster glory.
Fermanagh sides have very little form and no honours at this grade, on Sunday all of Fermanagh will be cheering on Newtownbutler, good luck lads.
