An Port Mor vs Collegeland – Friday 17th July – 8pm
Promoted as ‘El Clasico’ by the An Port Mor social media team, this is a game the two sides have been looking forward to for quite some time now.
The long layoff due to lockdown denied the two sides a game at the beginning of the year, but now the time has come for An Port Mor to take on neighbours Collegeland, in a winner take all encounter.
From the outside, it’s hard to pinpoint an out-and-out favourite for the tie, or the league in general, as both sides look equally matched and will feel they can claim the maximum points on offer.
An Port Mor may just have the edge as they will enjoy home advantage, as well as having the experience of playing at a higher level of Intermediate for a few years.
But Collegeland are coming into the game, and the season, as Champions.
2019 is a year that will live long in the memory for the people of Collegeland as they captured the Sean Quinn Cup after an impressive Championship run.
You can be sure this youthful Collegeland side will burst into live in the Intermediate Division full of confidence as they look to prove their worth and compete at a higher standard.
Players such as Cathair McGeary and Niall Brady have caught the eye of Kieran McGeeney in recent seasons and they lead this young team.
Other like Shane Donnelly, who featured on the Armagh under 20 team this year, and Pauric McGeary, last seasons All-Star full back, help form a solid line up.
Of course, they have the mix of youth and experience and the real challenge facing them this year will be to find the right balance, and try and push on and compete in the Intermediate Division.
An Port Mor on the other hand were steady in this section of the Intermediate league last year and finished in fifth place by the time the competition ended, having racked up six wins from their fourteen outings.
Notable victories over Grange and Keady allowed the Blackwatertown men to display their talents, and they did likewise in the Championship.
Wins over St Paul’s and Ballyhegan set up a clash with Crossmaglen in the playoffs, but An Port Mor just missed out on a place in the last eight, losing by two points.
Shane Nugent remains an ever-reliable presence in the An Port Mor side while Gary Traynor and Cormac Kierans are the men to watch in the forward division.
John McLoughlin commands the centre of the park for the men in black and amber and his battle with Cathair McGeary could go a long way in deciding the result this weekend.
Home advantage and experience at this level points to an An Port Mor victory, but Collegeland will not fear their neighbours and will look to secure an early win.
