*Junior Championship Final* This Sunday sees Milford GAA take on Urris in the 2013 Junior Championship Final in O’Donnell Park at 6pm. This is the clubs first Junior Final since their 2009 defeat to Moville and the 5th in the Clubs history, having won the competition in 1990, 2000, and 2004 and victory would cap a great year which is marking the clubs 30th anniversary. Their path to the final required them to overcome Naomh Ultan in a playoff in the first round after an impressive 3-10 to 0-9 home win was followed by a 0-13 to 1-7 defeat in Dunkineely. In the playoff played in Killygordon Milford came through a tough battle to win by the slimmest of margins, 1-6 to 0-8 to set up a semi final against Robert Emmets in Convoy. After a poor first half performance they emerged a different team in the second half and produced a very solid display to progress to the final after a 0-13 to 0-8 victory. Milford’s opponents on Sunday, Urris, had a longer path to the final as they had to overcome Muff in the Preliminary Round before defeating Burt and then Red Hughs to progress to the Final. The panel has a real family feel to it this year with four sets of brothers involved. One set of brothers featuring are the McGettigans, Caolan and Cathal, while there is also Pauric and David Curley, sons of Pat Curley, the Chairman of the club. Conor and Barry McNulty’s father, Joe, is club treasurer and their mother Marian is the Children’s Liaison Officer. The Friels, Cormac and Lorcan are sons of Fergus who is the club’s President. The family connections don’t stop there, with Christopher Barrett playing alongside his cousin Luke Barrett the son of SP Barrett, the team trainer. Manager Nigel Black’s brother-in-law, son, and nephew; Enda McHugh, Darragh Black and Sean Black, are also members of the panel. Milford’s league form this season very much mirrors their form last time they won the Junior Championship in 2004 as they remain unbeaten in Division 4 so far this season with their only defeat in 2013 coming in the 2nd leg of the Championship away to Naomh Ultan. In the 2004 final they defeated Naomh Mhuire in a replay in Falcarragh after a drawn game in MacCumhaill Park in Ballybofey. In a tight game played in tough wet and windy conditions Milford prevailed thanks to an extra time injury time point from SP Barrett which brought the Junior Championship back to Moyle Park. They are currently sit top of Division 4, 3 points clear of Burt and 5 points clear of Moville however Milford have a game in hand on both teams. Nigel Black and SP Barrett were also at the helm of the Milford team which won the 2004 Championship and they will be looking to repeat the feat come Sunday in O’Donnell Park. Alongside Nigel and SP they are ably assisted by Aodh McCormack, Conall McFadden and the ever present Michael McGlynn as club physio. Nigel and his charges are urging that the communities of the three towns in our Parish, Milford, Ramelton and Rathmullan, get out in numbers to get the behind the team and provide plenty of support to help the team on to victory and bring back the Junior Championship to the club for the 4th time.
Posted on: Wed, 21 Aug 2013 15:06:36 +0000
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