Derrylaughan midfield ace Brian Kennedy has hailed developments on two fronts but is now hoping that a hat-trick of achievements will land on his doorstep.
The towering Kennedy played a major role in taking his Derrylaughan side to the Tyrone Intermediate Football Championship title and was a relieved onlooker when Malachy O’Rourke was appointed as the Red Hand county’s new football boss.
Now Kennedy is hoping that Derrylaughan can take a huge step towards the Ulster Club Intermediate title when they meet Derry champions Ballinderry in the provincial Semi-Final on Sunday at Pairc Esler, Newry (1.00pm).
If the 2024 inter-county season failed to deliver from a Tyrone perspective, then Derrylaughan’s progress to date has proven a considerable source of satisfaction for Kennedy.
But he acknowledges that Ballinderry will now represent a formidable hurdle to his own team’s ambitions of becoming provincial champions.
“While we are pleased to have reached the Semi-Finals, we naturally hope that we can make it into the Final,” said Kennedy,
“Ballinderry have a lot of quality in their side and they will be very keen to become champions of Ulster. The Intermediate Championship has certainly thrown up some very good games to date and we hope that this will prove the case again tomorrow.”
Balinderry’s Gareth McKinless will be a focus of Derrylaughan’s attention
Kennedy is conscious that Gareth McKinless, who has distinguished himself in Derry’s colours in the recent past, will pose a big threat from a Ballinderry perspective.
“We know that we will be up against it because there is a lot of talent coming through on the club scene and we know that Ballinderry are thriving in this respect,” said Kennedy.
“They will be keen to hit the ground running but we ourselves want to get into our stride and maintain our momentum if we can until the final whistle.”
In the other Intermediate Semi-Final, Cavan champions Arva will confront their next door neighbours Magheracloone from Monaghan at the Athletic Grounds, Armagh on Saturday (4.00pm).
In winning the Ulster Junior Championship last year Arva sparked the belief that they could stay in the limelight and here they are on the cusp of an appearance in the provincial Intermediate Championship Final.
In Johnny McCabe, Tristan Noah Hofmann, Kevin Bouchier and Conal Sheridan they have accomplished players while Magheracloone skipper Alan Kieran leads a side that is a rich blend of youth and experience.
The Ulster Club Junior Football Championship Final will see Derry title-holders Craigbane lock horns with St Patrick’s, Muff, the Donegal champions, at Celtic Park, Derry on Saturday (1.30pm). No Derry side has won the title before and Craigbane are keen to write their name in the history books.
But they only managed to reach the decider via a Semi-Final penalty shoot-out against Monaghan champions Drumhowan but in Ray Moore, Brian Rainey, Pierce McCloskey, and Conor McLaughlin they have players who could stoke their fire on this occasion.
St Patrick’s, though, have not been dragging their feet and indeed they looked efficient and assured in reaching today’s decider. They have capable players in Johnny Toye, Cormac McColgan, Rory Hirrell and Kevin Doherty.