ENNISKILLEN GAELS feel they may be at a disadvantage when they play Crosserlough in the quarter-final of the CM Precision Components Ulster Minor Football tournament on the 4G pitch at Woodlands, Finaghy Road North, Belfast on Saturday (4pm).
“I believe that Crosserlough have a 4G pitch of their own and should be used to playing on that type of surface,” says Gaels joint-manager John Rehill.
“We have very limited experience of that surface but, to get a feel of it, we had an outing on the soccer ground at the Lakeland Forum and, also, on the GAA pitch at Bawnacre in Irvinestown.”
Crosserlough manager Jimmy Hughes waves away their advantage: “Our 4G pitch is only three-quarter size, so we don't use it that much,” he says.
“I don't think that will make much of a difference in the quarter-final.”
What might make a difference is the experience of the Cavan U18 champions, who have beaten a winning trail through Breffni land from their U12 days until now. However, it is the second year in succession that Gaels have won the Fermanagh minor championship and they have about half of last year's team still available although, overall, it is a pretty young squad, with a number of the players eligible for minor ranks again next season.
Midfielder Eoghan Beacom is among that number and is one of the mainstays of the current team. So, too, are centre-forward and captain Conall Quinn, John Rehill and full-back Aaron Nolan, while among the other Breffni boys of note are captain Patrick O'Reilly, James Smith, Brogan Koetze and Shane McVeety.
While both defences are pretty strong, this could be a high scoring game. Crosserlough have been drilling in the goals and points during the Cavan championship with scores of 3-11, 5-22 and 4-16 totted up. They were held to a draw by Southern Gaels and just squeezed through in the replay with an extra-time goal.
Meanwhile, Enniskillen were also keeping umpires busy as they hit 5-12 and 3-21 during their knockout run. Both teams have won the league and championship double this season, so both seem to be on form.
Every year, the Fermanagh winners entry the Ulster race at a disadvantage because their county final is played in mid-summer. This year, Gaels sped past Irvinestown in July, while their Wodlands' opponents won their county final on October 9. Both camps report two or three injured players with the final line-outs not being certain until closer to the game.
Last year, Enniskillen reached the semi-finals before losing to St Eunan's, but Crosserlough are slight favourites in this battle.
