By Alan Rodgers

TOP class championship form has catapulted Moortown into an Ulster semi-final clash which offers them a golden opportunity for more success when they take on the Antrim champions Tír na nÓg this Saturday at Maghera.

Among those players who has been excellent throughout the campaign is corner-back Conor Quinn. He’s definitely enjoying a knock-out journey which has brought out the best in the red and white hoops of this famous club.

“Our performances have probably got better throughout the championship and I’d say our win over Erne Gaels was probably the best of the lot. It was an open game and hard-hitting, but I think we did very well,” he said.

“We’ve got our first win in the Ulster Club now and it’s all about keeping the momentum going in the club because there is that great buzz around the ground.

“Hopefully we can go on now and take another step. The celebrations after the county final were great and the desire to get that kind of experience again definitely motivates you too. You want that to happen again because the feeling of winning is something you don’t want to stop because it might not come
around again.

“This means so much to the people in the club. The Ulster Club is a different competition with different teams and styles. You have to work around that and find ways to beat them.”

Tyrone teams have, of course, done fairly well at Intermediate and Junior level over the years. Moortown will now be aiming to enhance that level of success again.

However, Tír na nÓg are also coming into the game with impressive credentials. They were very impressive in scoring a 2-14 to 1-11 win over the Armagh champions Carrickruppen, a game which emphasises the threat that they pose.

For Quinn and everyone else in Moortown, the task of making another massive statement on their own abilities will take centre stage now.

“Tyrone teams have done well in this competition which shows how strong football is in the county. We’re no different than anyone else and we just want to keep going and maybe try and get a trophy out of it,” he add.

“We’ve played Randalstown in the Ulster League and challenge matches on a number of occasions and we know that they’re a good team. We’ll be under no illusions about what they’re going to bring because they’ve got some quality players as well.

“Since the Erne Gaels match we’ve just settled down to the training again and focus on this task.