Previews and predictions from this weekend’s Tyrone Championship games

TYRONE INTERMEDIATE CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND ONE

TATTYREAGH V ESKRA

Thursday, Fintona, 7.30PM

TATTYREAGH are the happier side going into this match as they staved off relegation while Eskra finished rock bottom in Division Two. The Tatts, who are managed by Eskra man Chris Kelly, are in a rich vein of form and are favourites to advance.

Verdict: Tattyreagh

NAOMH EOGHAN V BERAGH

Friday, O’Neill’s Healy Park, 8.15pm

BERAGH pummelled Naomh Eoghan when they met in last year’s championship with Jack Campbell scoring an incredible five goals. It’s hard to imagine it’ll be so one-sided when they meet again this weekend. A 50/50 contest but we’ll give Beragh a hesitant nod.

Verdict: Beragh

GORTIN V OWEN ROES

Saturday, Strabane 1.45pm

THIS is the third championship meeting between these two teams in as many years. They played out a remarkable semi-final last year with Owen Roes prevailing on penalties. Gortin have enjoyed a better league campaign but Brian McGarvey’s absence with injury is a big blow. We’ll still tip them to advance.

Verdict: Gortin

EGLISH V CLOGHER

Saturday, Donaghmore, 4.45pm

THESE two sides had contrasting fortunes in the league. Eglish bounced back to top flight football at the first time of asking by winning the Division Two title while Clogher are set for the relegation play-offs. Conor McKenna is set to line out for Eglish before heading back to Australia and they should win this.

Verdict: Eglish

COOKSTOWN V KILLEESHIL

Sunday, Killyclogher, 4.45pm

LAST year’s Junior Champions Cookstown had a poor league campaign albeit they finished reasonably strongly. Killeeshil had a much better campaign and have a nice balance to their squad.

Verdict: Killeeshil

ROCK V AGHYARAN

Sunday, O’Neill’s Healy Park, 8pm

AGHYARAN haven’t a great championship record and it’s 34 years since they collected the Paddy Cullen Cup. However, it wasn’t long ago before they played Division One football in Tyrone and they’ll be very disappointed if they don’t win this one. The Rock are a steely side and you can never totally discount them.

Verdict: Aghyaran

POMEROY V GALBALLY

Sunday, Killyclogher, 4.45pm

A HUGELY appetising fixture between two of the contenders for the title. They met in the decider in 2019 with Galbally edging matters by a historic point, and both have spent time in Division One in the intervening period. Pomeroy have improved massively since Kieran McGeary and Frank Burns returned during the league. A genuinely very tough one to call.

Verdict: Pomeroy

KILDRESS V EDENDORK

Monday, Stewartstown, 7.30pm

IT would be no major surprise if Edendork win their second championship in three years given they can call upon Darren McCurry, Conn Kilpatrick and Niall Morgan. Kildress have had a fine season and still have a chance of reaching promotion through the league, but they’re underdogs for this one.

Verdict: Edendork

TYRONE JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND ONE

DERRYTRESK V CLANN NA NGAEL

Friday, O’Neill’s Healy Park, 7.45pm

CLANN na nGael’s league campaign proved pretty decent in 2022 with a respectable joint tenth table slot. Derrytresk finished a disappointing 15th but they’ve proved in the past that they can be a force to be reckoned with come championship time. We’ll still give the north Tyrone side the nod.

Verdict: Clann nGael

GLENELLY V URNEY

Saturday, Strabane, 12.15pm

GLENELLY have been a reinvigorated outfit under their new manager Diarmaid McNulty this season, finishing just three points off the top four. Urney finished mid-table but they could be dark horses for the championship as they’ve built up a head of steam in the second half of the league.

Verdict: Glenelly

FINTONA V BRACKAVILLE

Saturday, Strabane, 1.45pm

FINTONA have had their best league campaign in many years and will duke it out in the promotion play offs. Brackaville have a proud tradition in the Junior Championship but haven’t fared well in the last few seasons. Fintona might snatch this one.

Verdict: Fintona

DRUMRAGH V AGHALOO

Sunday, Augher, 12.15

AGHALOO have been in great form after the disappointment of last year’s relegation from Division Two. Drumragh have been knocking on the door in recent seasons but Aghaloo have the momentum heading into this one.

Verdict: Aghaloo

STEWARTSTOWN V ERRIGAL CIARAN

Sunday, Augher, 1.45pm

BOTH these sides came through their respective preliminary round contests at the weekend. Errigal Ciaran ‘Thirds’ have some fine players like Darren Canavan and former Tyrone star Davy Harte, but Stewartstown won the league and it would be a surprise if they don’t slip into the quarter-finals.

Verdict: Stewartstown

CASTLEDERG V STRABANE

Sunday, O’Neill’s Healy Park, Omagh

THIS will be Strabane’s first foray into the Junior Championship since 2008 when they narrowly lost out to Augher following a first-round replay. They had a very stellar league campaign whereas their opponents finished 11th in the table. It all points to a Strabane victory.

Verdict: Strabane