Northern Switchgear Antrim Senior Football Championship
ST BRIGID’S boss Anthony McGrath believes quarter-final opponents Aghagallon are “the most under-rated team in Antrim” ahead of today’s championship quarter-final clash at Dunsilly (1pm).
While it may be an attempt to soften up an opponent before a game, there is some merit in McGrath’s assessment as he tries to guide the south Belfast men to their first-ever senior semi-final since they were formed in 1998.
Aghagallon, managed by Kevin Murray, showed plenty of grit and determination to qualify for the knock-out stages by seeing off St Enda’s in a win-or-bust group clash earlier this month.
Murray’s side have a sprinkling of youth and experience at either end of the field and St Brigid’s will have a sizeable job on their hands minding free-scoring trio Adam Loughran, Gareth Magee and Eunan Walsh who all played key roles in St Enda’s downfall.
McGrath has been getting a tune out of former Antrim defender James Loughrey, now part of the Cork footballers’ new management team, and ex-Down ace Paul McComiskey.
Jack Dowling, who had spells with the county team, is another key man for St Brigid’s.
“I’d say Aghagallon would be a good bit further down the road than us,” said Ballyshannon native McGrath, in his first year with St Brigid’s.
“They are a well-seasoned team and have been knocking on the door for the last few years. I’d say they are the most under-rated team in Antrim.”
For McGrath, he insists his charges are enjoying their “chance of adventure” and that their age profile makes them a “fearless” type of team.
Having claimed a top four finish in Division One, they recovered after an opening championship defeat to Portglenone and topped their three-team group.
Elsewhere, Lamh Dhearg will still feel there’s another championship in this cycle as they prepare for a testy encounter with Portglenone at Dunsilly tomorrow afternoon (1pm), while St John’s could make life difficult for Gerard McNulty’s Kickham’s Creggan at St Enda’s tomorrow (3.30pm) particularly with them having to contend with almost a two-month lay-off since their last group game.
