Calling the shots

Fermanagh senior football final

DERRYGONNELLY v EDERNEY Tomorrow, Brewster Park, 6pm THE last time these two met in the final was two years ago when the Harps won on a 2-16 to 0-10 scoreline.

Right now, the Harps are seeking six titles in a row which would draw them level with Enniskillen Gaels’ feat between 1998 to 2003 and bring them closer to Teemore’s seven in a row from 1911. As strong as they have been, highlighted by their win in the Ulster club against Trillick last winter and the scare they gave Kilcoo, their evolution is also continuing with the likes of Aaron Jones and Miceál Glynn coming into the team to great effect.

As much as neutrals around the county would like to see Ederney claim their second title, it is hard to picture it.

VERDICT: Derrygonnelly

Armagh senior hurling final

CUCHULAINNS v MIDDLETOWN Tomorrow, Athletic Grounds, 4pm CUCHULAINNS have not won this title since their replay win over Keady in 2013, while Middletown have claimed six out of the last 11 and defeated Keady in last year’s final.

While Middletown have former county manager, the force of nature Sylvester Mcconnell, back managing the club, Cuchulainns made an interesting appointment at the start of the year by bringing in former county footballer John Toner, who managed Armagh Harps to the Armagh football title in 2017.

Standards of preparations are improving all the time, but a win here may just be beyond them.

VERDICT: Middletown

Down senior hurling final

PORTAFERRY v BALLYCRAN

Today, Ballygalget, 4pm

THE first instalment last weekend went to extra-time, but mercifully not penalties as each stared each other out and could not be separated after 80 minutes of harum-scarum hurling.

Each side will attempt to mix things up and Ballycran’s deployment of Connor Woods, either at centre-back or centre-forward, will be interesting. Portaferry finished stronger last weekend with more missed chances, so they get a hesitant nod.

VERDICT: Portaferry

Cavan senior football final

CROSSERLOUGH v KINGSCOURT STARS

Today, Kingspan Breffni, 7.15pm TRADITION counts for nothing once a ball is thrown in and the game is on, but Crosserlough are chasing their first title since 1972.

Back then they were at the tail end of an astonishing run of success with nine titles in 15 years.

If they came out of the blue, something like that might weigh a team down, with the expectation of it all, but they lost by a point in the decider to Castlerahan two years ago and will be determined that this occasion does not pass them by.

Kingscourt, however, beat Cavan Gaels by eight points in the semi-final, showing how dangerous they can be on any given day. If stage fright isn’t an issue, and their young team can manage the nerves side of it with their oldest player David Shalvey just 24, then they can bridge that gap.

VERDICT:

Crosserlough

Derry senior football semi-final

THE LOUP v MAGHERAFELT

Today, Bellaghy, TBC

BOTH semi-finals had to be moved out of Celtic Park, given the rate of infection levels in the Derry and Strabane area.

Champions Magherafelt found things tight enough against an organised Swatragh in the last round, but should prevail here.

VERDICT: Magherafelt

Derry senior football semi-final

BALLINDERRY v SLAUGHTNEIL Tomorrow, Bellaghy, TBC

THIS would have drawn a crowd of 5,000 in normal times, but alas.

Slaughtneil should prevail here.

VERDICT:

Slaughtneil

Derry senior camogie final

SLAUGHTNEIL v SWATRAGH Today, Bellaghy, 4.30pm

THIS tournament is sort of the preserve of the Slaughtneil camogs at this stage, even though they are missing Siobhan Bradley from last year’s team.

VERDICT: Slaughtneil

Ulster Senior Ladies Championship

ST PAUL’S v DONAGHMOYNE Tomorrow, St Paul’s, 2pm

ST Paul’s got past Armagh Harps in the last round and should be stronger for having Saoirse Tennyson well on the way back from her ACL injury. However, this Donaghmoyne team are a different proposition than they have faced before.

VERDICT: Donaghmoyne

Ulster Senior Ladies Championship

LACKEN v GLENFIN

Tomorrow, Lacken, 2pm BECAUSE of Covid restrictions, this game will be played behind closed doors.

Lacken are something of a surprise package, coming from nowhere in their own county and taking down a big gun in St Macartan’s in the last round. They will be hard stopped.

VERDICT: Lacken