Bradley eyes up trophy treble as Newbridge aim to rain on Belcoo’s parade

THERE will be an element of the irresistible force meeting the immovable object when Newbridge and Belcoo clash in tomorrow night’s eagerly-awaited Ulster club intermediate football championship quarter-final at Celtic Park, Derry (5.15pm).

Newbridge manager Paddy Bradley, in his first season in charge, has taken his side to the Derry league and championship titles and sees the possible capture of the provincial silverware as completing what would be a significant hat-trick.

For their part, Belcoo are hosting their gala centenary banquet on November 11 but with the final of the competition scheduled for the following day something might just have to give.

The club are understandably keen to clinch the trophy which would be the icing on their centenary cake, but Bradley obviously has other ideas about that.

He watched his side dispose of Shercock in the preliminary round by 2-20 to 2-7 but he is taking nothing for granted in respect of tomorrow’s contest.

“It will get tougher from here on, there’s no doubt about that,” muses the former Oak Leaf marksman.

Belcoo, who beat Lisnaskea in the Fermanagh intermediate championship final, participated in the provincial intermediate series 11 years ago when they were beaten by Eoghan Rua (Coleraine) at the semi-final stage.

Current club skipper Niall McGovern is one of a handful of survivors from that game and acknowledges that his side face a demanding test against a reinvigorated Newbridge outfit.

“It’s going to be a big mission for us,” he says, “But we know what is expected from us.”