By Shaun Casey

GLENARIFFE joint-manager Hugh Dobbin believes Éire Óg, Carrickmore pose a “massive challenge” for his side at the pair lock horns in this Saturday’s Ulster IHC semi-final at Owenbeg.

The Tyrone champions have been regulars on the provincial scene over the past few years, having reached the decider as recently as 2023, and lost out in last year’s quarter-final following a penalty shootout at the hands of eventual champions Carey Faughs.

Dobbin, who manages the side with Shay O’Hagan, admits he only knows “bits and pieces” about the opposition but plans to get their own house in order to make sure they’re ready for the weekend, rather than worrying too much about the Red Hand representatives.

“It’s a massive challenge – Carrickmore are a very good team, and they were very unfortunate last year, Carey Faughs nipped them at the post last year so they’re a very good team, and we know we’re going to have to perform at our very best to get over the line,” said Dobbin, who takes the team alongside Shay O’Hagan.

“We don’t know a great deal about them, bits and pieces just to be honest. We know a bit about them but it’s not what you would know about the teams within your own county.

“You play them in the league and in different cups and stuff but when you play in Ulster, it’s a bit different. We played Liatroim in the quarter-final and I was with Ahoghill three years ago when Liatroim beat us in Ulster.

“I knew a wee bit about them, but this time around it’s really just a case of us getting our own game-plan right and hopefully that’ll be good enough on the day.”

On the Liatroim result, Dobbin was delighted to lead his side over the line. Liatroim were crowned Ulster IHC winners three years ago, so getting one over them the last day out has boosted the confidence inside their changing room.

“Liatroim are a very good side and a very good hurling team,” the Glenariffe boss continued. “The likes of the McCrickards are phenomenal players and we really had to go over and above to actually beat them.

“We were very unfortunate to go down to 14 men halfway through the first half so we hung in and hung in and to be honest, it was probably one of our best performances this year because they are such a good team.”

The Antrim men are just 60 minutes away from an appearance in the Ulster final and Dobbin is relieved to have a fully fit squad to pick from heading into the encounter, coming through their last-eight battle unscathed.

“The squad is getting there; we’re going into this game at the weekend at full strength and all of our players are available, so that definitely won’t be a complaint for us and hopefully we can get over the line.”