Sunday November 17
AIB Ulster Intermediate Club Championship Final
Carrickmacross (Monaghan) v Mullahoran (Cavan); O’Neills Healy Park, Omagh, 1.00pm
MONAGHAN champions Carrickmacross meet Mullahoran from Cavan in Sunday’s Intermediate decider.
Carrickmacross go into this final full of confidence after convincing wins over Tempo and Saul in the Ulster quarter and semi-finals, respectively. The game against Tempo was played on a horrible, wet day but the south Monaghan girls equipped themselves very well against the depleted Fermanagh champions, winning 6-17 to 0-7.
Several players caught the eye that day but Sarah Capaldi edged the MVP, scoring 1-9.
In the semi-final, Saul was always going to be a tougher challenge but again Carrickmacross showed they are a decent side with a 2-13 to 1-7 win away from home. Once again the defence was pretty solid and six different players scored.
Capaldi was firing all cylinders again, contributing eight points, seven from play. Carrick also have big game experience, having won the Ulster junior title in 2021.
Mullahoran are a club steeped in history and will relish being in this final. Founded in 1976, they won the All-Ireland club title in 1977 and lost the 78 and 79 finals.
The Breffni champs have racked up some huge scores on their way to the final, having scored 15-32 across their three games from the preliminary round to the semi-final, overcoming Derrynoose, Dungloe and St Gall’s respectively.
Their preliminary round game against Derrynoose saw them hit 8-16 against the Armagh champions. The prize for this comprehensive win was a quarter-final trip to Dungloe where the game was then changed owing to some brutal weather. The game went ahead and Mullahoran emerged victorious, 1-6 to 0-6.
The semi-final saw them on the road again, this time in Belfast. Geraldine Sheridan was married on the Friday and she, along with her sisters, played on the Sunday as the Cavan champions defeated St. Gall’s 6-10 to 0-4.
The game was over at the break thanks to five first half goals. This one is too close to call – don’t be surprised if it’s a draw.
