McConnell: We kept our focus after Tyrone Junior success

By Alan Rodgers

FOOTBALLING life has been good around Clogher during recent months as the joy generated by their historic Junior triumph has rolled right into a provincial campaign which will climax with an Ulster Final appearance this Saturday.

It has been a roller-coaster few months as the Éire Ógs first missed out on promotion through the Tyrone Division Three League, before sealing that memorable Junior title last month. Now the focus is very firmly on meeting Emyvale in the Ulster Final this Saturday at 1pm in Roslea, and adding another win on a run that has seen them blaze a trail through the county championship and on then to the provincial stage.

Marc McConnell has been a key attacker for them throughout this season. The 29 year-old scores freely, hitting eight points in last weekend’s tense win over Donagh. He will be aiming for the same again in the final, but knows only too well how tough this decider against the Monaghan champions will be.

“The fact that we’ve reached the Ulster Final now is a great achievement for us. At the start of the year we set out to win the Tyrone title. That was our main goal, but then as soon as you win that, you definitely don’t want to stop,” he said.

“Tyrone teams have done really well in Ulster over the years. But then a lot of people think that you take your eye off things a little after winning the county title and anything after that is a bit of a bonus. But after winning Tyrone, we focused straight away on the provincial championship.

“Ulster was the next goal for us and our win over Donagh was another step on that journey. It was also good because we came through after being out under a lot of pressure by them, and the fact that we showed how to deal with that and come out the right end has done a lot for our confidence.

“By the looks of it now, we can win both ways. That’s important for us.”

There’s a real buzz around Clogher currently. The celebrations at winning the Tyrone Junior title for the first time in 25 years have coincided with an event to mark the achievements of the 2000 team. Now, even the big focus on that will be eclipsed somewhat by a first ever provincial final.

Clogher are aiming to go where a lot of teams have gone before from Tyrone, and there’ll be no doubting that their loyal support will be there again at Roslea on Saturday to cheer them on in this latest bid for silverware.

“Our support has been unreal throughout this year. You saw the amount of Clogher ones at the semi-final with their flags. They’ve been behind us all the way and I’ve no doubt that it will be the same this weekend,” added McConnell.

“Emyvale are a great team, but whoever came from the other semi-final was going to be tough. The Ulster Final is always going to be a close contest and I’ve no doubt that it will be the same in this one.

“They are just over the road from us, nearly our next-door neighbours. It will mean that there’s going to be a big crowd. But we’ll see how it goes and just concentrate on what we have to do.

“I’m 29 now and just trying to keep things going. It’s not easy sometimes, but all the lads are brilliant, and the training has been great all year. It’s good to be keeping that routine, because it’s not often you’d be still training in November. That’s what’s good about this run, it shows that you’re going well.”

Whatever the result, of course, 2025 will remain a season to remember for the Éire Ógs. But when the action begins on Saturday, the same determination, nerves, commitment and desire will be required one more time, just as it has been needed in their brilliant championship run so far.