A busy weekend of WJ Dolan Tyrone ladies championship finals get under way on Thursday with a new final on the clar. The Senior B final. Beaten in the senior championship proper this new competition pits Dromore, back in senior football this year after a year out up against a side that last won the senior title in 2000 but graced the 2004 decider Aodh Ruadh . Some pundits feel that subsidiary championships are a waste of time, but one only has to look at these two clubs to find the preparation and build up has been intense.

Dromore will confirm that they have no major concerns ahead of the showdown with the East Tyrone side, but do report several absentees because of holidays. With the men at Gardrum Park through to the last four of their championship the Dromore side under Colm Donnelly will be keen to show them the right path. Spearheaded by Orla O’Neill up front and with the assured Sinead McLaughlin at number three St Dympnas could cause what many feel would be an upset.

Dungannon though will start favourites and despite several players unavailable for selection it’s a tag they will be happy to carry. The winners will receive a new cup from Dungannon firm Heraldic Grafts, it would be quite apt then if a Dungannon hand took hold of it first on Thursday…..Dromore though will have something to say about that.

Moving on then to Friday night and expect a big crowd at Greencastle as former senior champions Galbally aim to reignite their glory days when they face centenarians Beragh in the WJ Dolan junior final.

Both sides come into the game after comfortable exchanges in the championship so far and for both this could really be the challenge they craved. Galbally took the second ever senior title in Tyrone in the infant days of ladies football, it was 1993 when the celts saw of first reigning champions An Charraig Mhor. The new champions were denied a two in a row the following year when St Macartans emerged and since those heady days   that infancy hasn’t blossomed into the potential that abounds from the club.

Beraghs club are celebrating reaching 100 this year and a county title of any description would certainly prove a major highlight at St Marys Park. The underage structures at the Red Knights is good and they have the experience too, though this one is close to call.

The winners as always will receive the Brenda Logue Memorial cup

INTERMEDIATE   EXPECTED TO BE CLOSE.

Moy have put in long hard hours to reach this final after a year that looked destined to be difficult. After the clubs minors reached the league final last year the decision was taken at the start of 2006 that there would be no minor football this year. The team had more or less graduated to the senior squad. Well it may have looked bleak but behind the scenes a fresh approach has brought out the best in this young side.

Key to reaching the final was a comfortable victory over Omagh and a good semi-final outing against Loughmacrory and of course top preparation. A fact not lost on the club as they brought in Mayo coach John Morrison this week in their final build up. Morrison of course one of the countries top motivators.

Neither side will need much in the way of that motivation on Saturday, a place at the top table is a very sought after prize and with the possibility of league restructuring on the cards it’s the best place to be.

Fr Rocks boast another very youthful and useful team, the likes of Marion Corey, Laura Burton and Michelle Monaghan are the veterans in the side, a side filled with twenty and seventeen year olds.

An Intermediate medal though is a sought after prize and both teams will be pulling out all the stops to secure the Tommy McGarvey cup. On route to Saturdays curtain raiser at Beragh the Cookstown club beat 2005 Junior champions Beragh and a fancied Sperrin Og, they have the talent but can the produce it on the day. Throw in time is 4pm

CAN ERRIGAL STOP THE HISTORY MAKERS

Its certain to be a big ask of Errigal Ciaran this Saturday as they face a formidable An Carraig Mhor at Beragh. The record of the first and last holders of the Masterscreen cup speaks for itself. In fourteen years of senior championship finals the girls of Pairc Naomh Colmcille have graced the occasion twelve times, this will be their thirteenth.

Of those appearances nine have been successful with the only defeats in 1993 and 1996, the club missing only the 1994 and 1998 deciders.

If that wasn’t good enough reading for Carrickmore followers, a Saturday victory would make it six in a row.

Formidable yes and beatable Yes, admitted Tiffy Quinn who is a name synonymous with success at the Errigal club , both as player and youth coach. Quinn’s part of the management team this year and while he and his side expect a tough encounter he confirmed Errigal were not going to just make up the numbers.

Last year at Pomeroy Errigal succumb in the end to the experience of Carrickmore, one year on this Errigal club have blossomed into a teak tough unit who will give anyone a game on their day.