AIB Ulster Club Intermediate Football Championship
semi-final: Doomhamlet (Monaghan) v Loughinisland (Down) (Sunday, 2pm, Athletic Grounds, Armagh)
LOUGHINISLAND shot-stopper Kieran Gordon believes the progress of Down clubs in the Ulster club championships is an indication that football within the Mourne county is at a high standard.
Alongside Loughinisland, Kilcoo and Glasdrumman are carrying the Down flag in the senior and junior championships respectively, while Sunday’s intermediate opponents Doomhamlet are one of three Monaghan clubs also contesting semi-finals, with Scotstown and Rockcorry competing in the senior championship and junior championship respectively.
“It has definitely shown Down football in a good light and maybe football isn’t as bad as many people suggest and it is good to see all three Down clubs in Ulster semi-finals and hopefully all three can go one step further on Sunday,” said Gordon.
“Winning football matches breeds a lot of confidence. I suppose we can write last year off because we weren’t winning too many games and there probably was a lot of us not even enjoying playing football. But if you are winning games, it puts a smile on your face and that is what playing football is all about. It feels good at the minute, but we are taking every game one at a time and see where it takes us.”
Loughinisland defeated Bosco, Ballymartin, Tullylish and then An Ríocht in the county final before putting Derry’s Greenlough to the sword in the Ulster preliminary round and then overcoming Edendork in the quarter-final.
Doomhamlet beat Tyholland, then Emyvale after a replay, before getting past Cremartin in the county final and they needed extra-time to shake-off Cavan’s Ballyhaise in the Ulster quarter-final.
Kieran’s brother Dan is Loughinisland’s powerhouse midfielder, Stefan Mason and Rory Mason are creative sharpshooters up front, while Gareth 'Magic' Johnston will cause any defence problems.
The Monaghan champions will look to Barry McCann to lead the attack, while Ciarán McManus and Jamie Walshe should contest the Loughinisland midfield and Colin Walshe is always dangerous on the counter-attack.
Jim McCorry called Gordon into the county squad at the start of the season and, while his experience was shorter than he hoped, he feels his time with Down helped him prepare for the club season, although he credits managers Jerome Johnson and Paul Duffin for Loughlinisland’s recent success.
“Jerome Johnston and Paul Duffin have to take a lot of credit. Club football is totally different than playing for your county," he said.
“At club, you are playing with boys you have known all your life, but when you come back from a county set-up, it helps bring a level of professionalism to your club. Although, in saying that, I can’t compliment Jerome and Paul Duffin enough. The professionalism they have brought to our club is second to none. It is as close to being at county standard as I have ever been involved with and I have to take my hat off to both and we wouldn’t be where we are without the both of them.”
Doomhamlet were Ulster intermediate finalists in 2010, whereas, on Sunday, Loughinisland are making club history and the sense of occasion isn’t lost on Gordon.
“It is massive for the club, especially since we haven’t been there for such a long time,” he said.
“The last time we were in Ulster of any sort was in 1989, which was the year I was born. Loughinisland has been starved of success in terms of senior football, but it would be great to go one step further and get into an Ulster final.”
