Ulster minor tournament nearing conclusion
20 December 2009The Northern Bank Ulster minor club football tournament continues this afternoon at Shaws Road in Belfast with the semi-final clash of Down's Kilcoo and Scotstown of Monaghan (1.30pm).
The tournament has been running for a number of weeks now and continues to grow in popularity each year. The contrast between today's opponents could scarcely be greater with Scotstown having been a major force in county and provincial football for years. During that time, they completed a hat-trick of Ulster club titles with players who formed the nucleus of the hugely successful Monaghan side of the 1980s, which was managed by former GAA president Sean McCague.
By contrast, Kilcoo were in the wilderness until this year when they won their first Down SFC title in over 60 years and subsequently reached the Ulster club football semi-final where they lost narrowly to Loup from Derry. And for good measure, their minors completed a rare championship double.
After contesting last year's final, Scotstown will start out as favourites, but Kilcoo will be determined to go one better than their senior counterparts by making it through to the Ulster final on New Year's Day.