O'Dowd tips Ballinderry for provincial crown
November 17, 2008
Cavan Gaels manager Mick O'Dowd has tipped Ballinderry Shamrocks to shock Crossmaglen in this year's Ulster SFC Championship final, after witnessing the Derry champions' impressive form first-hand yesterday in Armagh.
After taking the lead on early in the second-half, the Cavan kingpins conceded 10 unanswered points in the space of 20 minutes against the relentless Shamrocks and after watching that O'Dowd has branded them as "a great side" that can go on and claim the province.
"If I was to predict a winner, I d have to go with Ballinderry after today," said O'Dowd.
"They were truly magnificent. We wish we were in the final, but Ballinderry showed what a great side they are."
However the Clontibret native envisions a different kind of game being contested between Ulster's two current powerhouses, and doesn't think the Armagh men will concede as much as his side did in the Athletic Grounds on Sunday.
"It'll be a different type of game. It will be a lot more physical than this game. I don't think Crossmaglen will get caught up the field the way we did," he admitted.
"Crossmaglen play from deep and they'll win a lot of frees up front. It's the final all the pundits predicted."
Meanwhile, Ballinderry boss Martin McKinless insists that his side will not be getting carried away with their convincing win on Sunday, as they face a very different kind of proposition the final.
"It was a good second-half performance from us, but the opposition began to fade a bit," said McKinless. "We'll not be getting carried away with it. We've got aour feet in the ground.
"We're in an Ulster final and we know Crossmaglen are unbeaten in the last 25 finals they've played in. They are opposition to be reckoned with. Crossmaglen are the team to beat."
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