Sunday, November 17
AIB Ulster Senior Club Championship Final
Clann Éireann (Armagh) v Lurgan (Cavan); O’Neills Healy Park, Omagh, 3.00pm
HOLDERS Clann Eireann, from Lurgan town, will attempt to retain their title on Sunday and standing in their way are the Cavan champions from the Parish of Lurgan in the county.
Gregory McGonigle’s Clanns side had to travel to Emyvale for a preliminary round game against the new Monaghan champions. The Orchard girls dished out a lesson to the team that had halted Donaghmoyne’s historic run, winning the game 6-12 to 1-8.
Another high scoring performance was delivered in the quarter-final when Clann Eireann beat Kinawley 3-12 to 1-5.
In the semi-final they met Moneyglass. The champions got off to a great start but Moneyglass refused to buckle and in the end only three points separated the sides, Clann Eireann winning 2-10 to 1-10.
McGonigle has added some new players since last year, but the backbone of his side includes a host of county stars, including All Star nominees Clodagh McCambridge and Cait Towe.
The Cavan Lurgan, who will play in their first ever provincial club final, have had two fine wins in their Ulster campaign.
In the quarter-final, they put six goals past Ballymaguigan as they ran out winners by 19 points. That win set up a semi-final against Termon. The former All Ireland champions had come into the game having beaten a hotly tipped St. Macartan’s side.
Lurgan weren’t worried about the form book as they dominated the Donegal side from start to finish. Their defence was tight, midfield strong and forwards on top. Aoife Brady top scored with 1-7, her goal coming from a penalty after Emma Tolan was upended.
The sides have met at minor level a few weeks back with Clann Eireann coming out on top. This is the fist meeting at senior level. Clann Eireann will start as favourites but the only certainty at this stage is that the cup is going to Lurgan – but will it be to the Parish of Lurgan or the town of Lurgan? All will be revealed by 5.00pm on Sunday.
