By the time nine o’clock comes on Friday evening, one of the remaining big hitters will have left the Junior Championship.
Forkhill take on Eire Og tonight and this clash should go down as the tie of the round, both sides holding realistic chances of capturing championship glory.
Eire Og have already had one championship outing this season, when they saw off Lissummon in the opening round. Just about.
By the halfway stage, Eire Og had built up a strong 0-7 to 0-2 lead and where the better team on showing.
However, they lost their grip on the game and Lissummon came roaring back into the contest to close the gap to one.
Eire Og did find the score that put them through, their only score of the second period, and they limped over the line with a 0-8 to 0-6 win.
Their performance the last day out contradicts their league form, as they are one of only two clubs to remain unbeaten.
After four rounds of league action, the Craigavon based club have secured the maximum eight points on offer.
They have defeated Clady, Mullabrack, Crossmaglen IIs while also edging their encounter with tonight’s opponents Forkhill.
Eire Og were the visiting side when these sides clashed in round three of the Junior League and they scraped through with a 1-13 to 0-15 win.
That is currently the only dent on Forkhill’s league record, as they have won two of their three games so far this season.
When discussing the South Armagh sides progress, it’s impossible not to point to the strength they have available.
Stephen Sheridan, Jemar Hall and Patrick Burns are all arguably starters in Kieran McGeeney’s Armagh side.
With such class and talent, it remains a surprise that Forkhill are still battling it out in the Junior Division.
But that could all change this season and their intentions will be highlighted with a win over Eire Og this evening.
Eire Og will go into this game with massive confidence, having already defeated Forkhill once this season.
If that game is anything to go by, tonight’s quarter final clash could be one that goes down to the wire, with the winner unknown until the finish whistle sounds.
John Cochrane was his sides main scoring threat last weekend and his accuracy from frees may be crucial for his team getting over the line.
All in all, Forkhill have the backbone of a team that should be competing at a much higher level than they have been in recent years.
Along with the three county men, Barry Shannon is also in the mix and he has also represented Armagh throughout his career.
From the outset, Forkhill have been many people’s favourites to lift the Sean Quinn Cup and bar a major disaster, they should make it through to the last four.
Prediction: Forkhill
