Tyrone officials will be hoping Saturday will be a double day of joy for the counties under 14 footballers. The County took the major step of including two teams in this years A and B championships in Ulster and that gamble appears, so far anyhow to have paid off as both Tyrone sides have made it through to the Ulster finals this weekend.

Fintona will play host to the two games with Down and Donegal providing the opposition. With the dates already set in stone and clashing with the Tyrone Louth qualifier Tyrone’s Paddy Donnelly still appealed for Tyrone supporters to come out and support the two squads who have worked hard to qualify from tough group sections.

While its team one and two, Donnelly who has been development officer in the county for several years confirmed there was no difference in the teams,

“Both teams have come through the trials and we were lucky to have such talented footballers around, enough for two teams and thankfully rather than cut players we have been able to produce two teams and the preparation and build up has been exactly the same”

Tyrone’s team two will open the action at Fintona with a high noon showdown against Down, few expected Tyrone to be a major force in the grade yet they have proved many wrong with some outstanding displays including a crunch victory over Fermanagh to set up this meeting.

Manager Paddy Fox who has enjoyed senior club management for several years is delighted to be in the decider but admits Down are a quality outfit,

“It will certainly not be easy this weekend but we have some great players and I feel this could be a great chance”

The second team is made up of younger girls but they have showed skill well above their ages and although starting as underdogs on Saturday the belief is there in the camp.

Paddy Donnelly is the man in charge of the first team and he feels this could be Tyrones year to finally get a grip on the Under 14 championship. Remarkably its one title that has eluded Tyrone a final appearance four years ago there last brief flirtation with the silverware. They have of course beaten Monaghan for the first time in the grade this year and Paddy admits that was a turning point,

“Well we beat Monaghan and from that day I felt that this could well be our year, the confidence is good but all of us have our feet firmly on the ground,”

Rightly so too as Tyrone come up against a Donegal side seeking three Under 14 crowns in a row.

Vastly experienced, Donegals manager Kenny Griffen has eight girls from last years Ulster final victory still to call upon for the 1-45 pm throw –in at Fintona, that’s a major boost but Donnelly expects several changes in both sides from the ones that met at Convoy two   weeks ago in the last group games. On that occasion Tyrone eased home to a comfortable victory, yet it will be Donegal who start out and out favourites for the title.

The county board meanwhile have appealed for families and supporters to come along to Saturdays finals at the Tyrone venue, the local club plan to pull out all the stops to make it a memorable day, a day possibly of double joy for Tyrone.

UNDER 14Ss AT THE DOUBLE

Tyrone ladies two under 14 teams reached their respective Ulster finals with comprehensive victories on Sunday.

First up were the first team in the A championship when they traveled to Convey to take on reigning Ulster champions Donegal with a noon throw in.

Both counties experimented with players been deployed in different positions, as both had already booked their place in the final with victories Monaghan and Cavan in the first two rounds of the round robin stages.

Tyrone will have left Donegal manager Kenny Griffin with a lot to think about with a brilliant display of attacking football in a game which may have more impact on the Ulster championship than first thought. Although Donegal rested most of what would be deemed their first fifteen, and they did not compete in the Ulster or All Ireland blitzes, leave their team with little practice of playing together in competitive games. On the other hand Tyrone have a panel of thirty players who have been getting plenty of competitive action winning the Ulster blitz and competing in the all Ireland blitz, and are growing together in confidence   with every game. They went on to win by 4 - 13 to 2- 06.  

The red hand girls controlled this encounter from start to finish, Sound in goals was G. McGrade, with good defending from A.O’neill, C.Gallagher, Z.Loughran, O.Harkin,S. McCallan and M.Lynch with a strong midfield pairing of C.Cassidy and A.McGoune(0-03) up front A.McGahan(1-05), D.Collins(1-0), V.Doyle, N.Sherlock(1-01) and G.Harper were ably led by captain N.Rafferty(0-04).   Subs used E.J.Girvan(0-1) S.Kane(1-0) A.Canavan, A.Carroll and C.Grogan.

The second team went to Irvinestown needing a victory to clinch their place in the Ulster B championship.

This group of young players have emerged as strong opposition to Down in the Ulster final with and all round solid display and good score taking over their Fermanagh opponents on a scoreline of 6 - 13 to 2 -04. Capable keeping by L.Smith in goals, Solid defending from M.Dooher, C.Mallaghan, A.M.Franey , C.McCrossan, A.McDermott (0-2) and C.McNabb(0-1) ensured that thr red hands would contest both finals in two weeks time. At midfield the hard working C.McGovern and J.Kelly controlled centre field. Up front K.McGarvey(2-1), L.McCann(1-0), N.Tracey(0-1), T.McCusker(1-2), E.Hicks(2-6), and O.Kerlin took some great scores. Subs used J.Corcoran, S.McConnell, C.McGurk, S.Dolan and H.McKenna.