Ulster Junior Football Club Championship final: Blackhill Emerald's (Monaghan) v Rock, St Patrick's (Tyrone) (Sunday, Pairc Esler, 12.30pm)
THE Ulster final routine in the Courtney household usually follows a familiar pattern.
The five sisters – Sharon, Cora, Fiona, Joanne and Rosemary – gather their match gear and head off hoping to claim provincial glory with Donaghmoyne ladies while their brothers offer moral support from the stands.
For once though the roles have been reversed and this time the Courtney sisters will be going to cheer on Donal, Thomas and Anthony at Pairc Esler tomorrow as they try to help Blackhill to an Ulster Junior title at the expense of Tyrone champions Rock.
Having spent so long on the leash, the Emerald’s have really taken advantage of their freedom to roam.
They have known that they could compete at provincial level for a long time, getting the chance to prove that has been the issue.
In 2013 they lost the Monaghan final to Emyvale after a replay while the following year 14-man Drumhowan made them pay in the decider. They absorbed the blow and came back again 12 months later but Rockcorry were to admonish more final heartache, in another replay no less.
Players like goalkeeper Michael Shevlin, Dermot Daly, Colin Woods and Eamonn Byrne, who had played in all of those losses, must surely have been asking would they ever get the chance to represent their county in Ulster, but back to the well they came once more.
This year it didn’t run dry and Sean McDermott’s were brushed aside in the county final to spark wild celebrations as Blackhill finally got their hands on the Packie Boylan Cup after 64 long years.
With that considerable weight off their shoulders, Stephen Courtney’s side let loose. Clonmore and Downings presented very sizeable obstacles en-route to the Ulster final, but 11- and seven-point victories ear-marked them as a team determined to finally take their chance.
Blackhill have never faced a side like Rock though. The east Tyrone outfit are masters of this competition and are chasing their third title in a decade.
Their experience is unquestionable and that is so important in games like these. Adrian Nugent’s team didn’t exactly blaze a trail through Tyrone. Their biggest winning margin was four points but, crucially, only Brockagh got within two points of them. They have the know-how to hold teams off.
Ulster has produced similar thus far as they recorded a four-point win over Con Magee’s and a two-point win over Newtownbutler, although the 4-12 to 0-7 trouncing of Cornafean in the semi-final was a break from the norm.
They have class all over the pitch, especially in front of goal. Aidan McGarrity’s free-taking has been excellent while he has also found the net in four of their championship games this season.
His partner in crime Conor McCreesh isn’t maybe scoring as heavily as he was two years ago, but his assist count is absolutely huge while Paudie Ward has been lurking dangerously around the front two.
Further out the field Tommy Bloomer brings a notable work ethic while Ciaran Gourley has really tightened up the defence since moving from a sub to a starter as the season moved from the county scene to the provincial.
The St Patrick’s men are a very well-rounded team and they know exactly what to expect in Newry tomorrow. The occasion is unlikely to get to them whereas this will be a first for Blackhill.
The other, less important carrot is that both teams will be aiming to keep up their county’s brilliant record in this competition.
The last 13 winners have contained six Monaghan and five Tyrone victors. Corduff’s loss in the boardroom to Swanlinbar in 2010 prevented the Farney county from having over half of those triumphs.
It could be 6-6 at the close of play tomorrow though. Rock know this final too well, a historic treble should be their prize.
