Wolfhounds ace Brown aims to jet off Down Under on a winning note
LIMAVADY Wolfhounds may possess a stellar talent in Australia-bound Callum Brown for Saturday’s Ulster Junior Club Championship Football Final against Donegal champions Red Hughs but it could prove to be his last match for the side.
Should the Wolfhounds manage to beat Red Hughs, they look certain to be without the muscular Brown for the final as he will have departed to commence his AFL career.
But Saturday’s game is the only mission on the Limavady side’s radar right now.
The side has only lost one competitive match this year, and in clinching the Derry All-County League Division Three title, the Neil Carlin Cup and the Derry Intermediate Championship crown they have shown considerable resilience, superb fitness and no shortage of skill.
Brown has contributed much to their success but this Wolfhounds outfit is far from being a one-man show.
Brandon O’Brien, Richard King, Ruairi Hasson and Oisin Hartin are other key players who have helped to maintain the team’s admirable record of consistency.
But the Wolfhounds will discover that, just as they can call upon the skills of the departing Brown, Red Hughs have their own not-so-secret weapon.
Calvin Bradley has been proving to be a major scoring force for the Donegal side to date and he is particularly proficient at finding the back of the net.
In his last two Championship outings, this talented marksman has totted up an impressive 3-8, with 2-3 coming in his team’s win over Antrim side Con Magees before he swooped for 1-5 in their eclipse of strongly-fancied Emyvale in the last four.
Bradley’s lethal finishing is perhaps his team’s real strong point, but their zeal for attacking play, the manner in which they break quickly from the back and the stubborn streak that has served them so well to date suggest that they are set to go the full distance on the day.
In winning the Donegal title, Red Hughs showed themselves to be a well-drilled, efficient side who play a fast, direct brand of football that can quite often discomfit opposing defences.
They have progressed quietly, but they will come to Celtic Park on Saturday buoyed by a strong desire to do Donegal proud.
The Wolfhounds, meanwhile, may be regarded as minnows on the Derry stage, yet they are now getting the perfect opportunity to strike out for glory and look capable of making the most of it.
The winners will advance to the All-Ireland series, and the Limavady side is particularly keen to become acquainted with this level of football. If they do, they will give Derry football a boost. Final fling: Callum Brown faces his last match for Limavady SEBASTIEN Ogier may be leaving to take the place of Kris Meeke at Citroën but the boss of his current M-Sport Ford team says they will do everything in their power to ensure he bows out as a six-time champion.
Ogier leads the WRC heading into this weekend’s final round, Rally Australia, by three points over Hyundai’s Thierry Neuville, with Toyota driver Ott Tanak a further 20 points back.
Even though Ford are still in contention for back-to-back manufacturers’ championships, M-Sport’s Malcolm Wilson, a former Ulster Rally winner, says Ogier is their priority.
“We’re putting every resource we have into keeping the drivers’ championship. That’s where all of our efforts are focused now.”
But Ogier’s potential success will bring mixed feelings for M-Sport as the Frenchman departs for Citroen in 2019. His exit is a blow to M-Sport, but Wilson says he is in awe of Ogier’s time with his team.
“I’ve never seen such mental strength or an approach that’s so incredibly complete in every single direction,” said Wilson.
“He and Julien (Ingrassia, co-driver) do everything to get every bit of performance they can. One thing is for sure, we will really miss him.”
Rally Australia’s title showdown will have three drivers in pursuit of the crown for the first time since Petter Solberg, Sebastien Loeb and Carlos Sainz went head-to-head in 2003.
But Wilson argues this year’s title chase is the best ever. “It has been incredible – what a way for us to end our time with Sebastien and Julien Ingrassia.”
And as Ogier prepares to return to Citroën to partner Esapekka Lappi, Craig Breen’s future remains uncertain. This weekend may be the last time he and Mads Ostberg line up for the French team.
The two-time Circuit of Ireland winner has said he is confident he will be back in the WRC next season but has given little indication with which team.
The most likely opportunity rests with M-Sport, but there have been suggestions he could remain at Citroën to share a part programme with Sebastien Loeb.