READY TO PUSH ON….Kevin Cassidy feels that Fermanagh can move on from last year

WE are heading into the third weekend of this year’s Championship and I think that we would all have to admit that it has started with a whimper.

I feel the powers that be should look at how we launch the Championship in the future and ensure that we start with a mouth-watering clash to get interest going from the start.

To think that we couldn’t even view last weekend’s clash between Fermanagh and Antrim says it all really.

Fermanagh put in a decent shift with some excellent score-taking by young Tomas Corrigan and Sean Quigley. I had said here a few weeks back that I felt Fermanagh had to push on from their spirited performances last season and maybe go a step or two further, last Sunday’s performance shows that they might just be heading in that direction.

They will now face a stiff test against a seasoned Donegal team but it’s a challenge that I am sure they will relish and they have absolutely nothing to lose, so they are in a decent position.

This weekend should see a rise in intensity and interest with the clash of bitter rivals Derry and Tyrone.

Down through the years I have always enjoyed watching these two teams battle it out in the Ulster Championship. There is always an edge to the game when they meet and this weekend should be no different.

I saw during the week that Damian Barton was urging the Derry folk to get right behind his team so the vibes are that they feel they have a decent chance. You would have to say that going on current form it’s hard to see anything but a Tyrone win and perhaps a landslide one at that.

Derry showed us very little during the League to get excited about whereas on the other hand Tyrone showed that they might just be heading back towards the top.

Anything can happen in Championship football and especially here in Ulster, even the heavily fancied teams can get caught in the cauldrons.

Looking in it’s hard to see where Derry will muster enough scoring chances to trouble Tyrone. Since the departure of the two Bradleys, Eoin and Paddy, they have really struggled in that department and in order to beat a mean defence like Tyrone, score-getting forwards are crucial.

For Derry to win I feel that they must draw Tyrone into a war and hope that it upsets one or two of their players because if the game is played out any other way, then Tyrone’s power, pace and accuracy will tear the Oakleafers apart.

All eyes will be on Tyrone this weekend to see how they shape up.

Word on the street is that they might be one of the few teams with the capabilities of matching the mighty Dubs this year. They do have the potential but delivering is another issue.

On my way to school after the League final I listened to Mickey Harte’s post game interview. In that interview he mentioned Derry more times than he did Tyrone so that tells me that this game is one they have been focused on for a long time so we should see some signs of intent this weekend and that might just spell danger for the Derrymen.
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