Connollys of Moy Tyrone SFC round one
Coalisland v Clonoe (Monday, Dungannon, 7pm)
ONE of Tyrone’s great rivalries will turn O’Neill Park into a cauldron of partisan devotion on Monday evening as Coalisland and Clonoe meet.
A derby fixtures that never fails to capture the imagination will attract not just the Fianna and O’Rahilly faithful, but a big crowd of interested spectators from other parts of the county and beyond.
It’s the first of two crucial encounters between two famous clubs that have endured lean times in recent seasons, and find themselves battling to preserve their senior status in the forthcoming Division One relegation play-off.
But they’ll put all that behind them this evening when they enter the championship arena which traditionally brings the best out of them.
Coalisland have star quality, particularly in defence, where Tyrone trio Padraig Hampsey, Michael McKernan and Niall Devlin are key elements of a strong unit.
Up front, Tiarnan Quinn, Bailey Leonard and Peter Herron will test a Clonoe defence in which Dwayne Quinn, Shane Hughes and Ryan Morrow have important roles to play.
Former Tyrone attacker Connor McAliskey, Danny McNulty and Daryl Magee will need to make the most of their scoring opportunities if the O’Rahillys are to get over the first hurdle.
But while Coalisland go in as slight favourites, they will have to get the best out of their main men to quell the challenge of their neighbours.
It’s six years since the Fianna won the last of their 10 championship titles, while Clonoe, with eight O’Neill Cup triumphs to their name, last tasted success in 2013.
Last season they didn’t compete in the series, having been relegated to intermediate football, whole Coalisland suffered a quarter-final exit at the hands of Ardboe.
Both clubs are facing a delicate balance between upholding their proud championship tradition and preserving their status at senior level.
And Clonoe captain Danny McNulty admitted that while everything will be put on the line in the championship clash, a more important meeting with Coalisland lies ahead in the relegation play-off.
“It’s one of those games that comes along every year and the joys of this one is that we’re going to have a double go at it, but that’s in the league at a later stage,” he said.
“You want to win them all. At the end of the day, you want the bragging rights of both, but the second one is the main one.
“If it doesn’t go our way the first night, there’s still another battle ahead.”
But for now, two sets of players who live and work side by side, will push friendships to one side as championship fever takes over.
“To show you how close we are, I think most of our boys live in Coalisland.
“Once you hit the field, you just turn to football mode,” said McNulty.
It has been a difficult first year back in Division One for the O’Rahillys, who spent a season playing intermediate football in 2023.
“I don’t think last year did us any harm. It helped us in a way to build back up.
“We have a new manager in this year, a new plan in place, but that’s not going to happen overnight.
“So hopefully if we stay up this year, it’s a good platform to get going again next year.”
