Down Ladies Update:

Aughlisnafin and Tullylish will do battle on Sunday August 29th in Pairc Esler Newry at 2pm for the honour of becoming Down Junior Champions. Aughlisnafin only in their third year of existence were promoted to the intermediate league for the 2004 season and their mentors will be pleased with the team’s performances to date. Although there were no wins they did chalk up two credible draws and were never any more than 4/5 points from getting that first elusive 2-pointer under their belt. As the Fin were going up for the 2004 season Tullylish were passing them in the other direction as they were relegated to the Junior league. The step down has been a fruitful one for them as they now sit proudly at the top of their division with the intermediate league beckoning them back for the 2005 season. Both teams’ performances in their respective leagues have been promising for different reasons but this is championship football and their results in their championship campaigns to date indicate that this should be a close game. So who will win the ‘Murray Cup’?? Tullylish have been here before, taking the honours in1997, but most of that panel has now moved on, Aughlisnafin have no such history in championship finals to put a marker against. Therefore this should be the closest final in years and though both teams will have left no stone unturned in their preparations, the winner come 3:30pm on the 29th will be the side that gives that little bit extra on the day. Aughlisnafin will start as slight favourites but don’t rule out a Tullylish upset.

Saturday 4th September will bring a double bill of football to Pairc Esler with the Intermediate & Senior title’s up for decision. At 2pm Clonduff and Loughinisland will meet in the Intermediate decider. The league meeting between these two sides saw them play out a draw 3-10 to 3-10 but Loughinisland were guilty of some woeful shooting on that occasion and they dropped a point in a game which they really should have won easily. Clonduff ‘Junior County’ winners in 2003 have had an outstanding season in their first year in the Intermediate league. They sit in 2nd spot with one game to go and that game is ironically against Loughinisland. The winner of this outstanding fixture will also pick up the Intermediate league title. So who will win this Championship encounter?? Clonduff are a big physical side and they won’t be knocked around easily, their forwards are very mobile but their defence can be suspect at times. On paper and given their league campaign to date, Loughinisland will start as clear favourites, if their forward line click and midfield get on top they should be the team celebrating at the final whistle.

The Senior Championship final will bring together last year’s winners Castlewellan and Bosco. Castlewellan lay down the marker last year with a comprehensive win over Bredagh and they find themselves with the possibility of bringing back-to-back titles to the ‘Town’ in 2004. Bosco on the other hand were the dominant team of the 90’s but the last few years have been barren ones for the Newry side. They have however rebuilt a formidable side during this time and their league form indicates that they are truly back on song. The league meeting between the two sides was close with Bosco sneaking over the finish line on a 1-11 to 0-10 score-line. I expect this game to be close again but if Bosco can maintain their current momentum, it should be enough for them to remain unbeaten in 2004 and more importantly they will be celebrating in the wide open spaces of Pairc Esler come full-time.