There’s an element of the unknown circling this fixture. How good are Forkhill at this level? Are Tullysaran title contenders? Can either side trouble the later rounds of the championship?
One of them is going to reach the last four, that’s for sure. But further questions remain unanswered up Friday night.
Forkhill were untested in their handy first round win over An Port Mor. The game was over as a contest by the halfway stage.
A much tougher test is expected this weekend and we will find out how Forkhill have adapted to playing at a higher grade.
Their three county men offer quality that any team in the county was take, but they’re more than a three-man team.
Yes Sheridan, Hall and Burns are the star attractions. But Tony Canning, Cormac Toner and Owen Donaghy are superb footballers as well.
Barry Shannon offers a wealth of experience off the bench and scored 0-2 in the second half the last day out.
Paddy Burns is likely to pick up Gavin Conlon, who pulls the strings for the O’Connell’s club.
Up top, Canning will go man-to-man with Eddie Mallon and try to shut down the sharpshooters influence.
Mark McKeever lined out at centerfield against Tir na nOg. While he had a fine game, the youngster plays his best football on the inside line.
Where Tullysaran decide to deploy McKeever could have a big say in the outcome of this game.
Turlough Lardner, Matthew Mallon and Eoghan Daly could all return to the starting line-up for Tullysaran.
The trio will improve Tullysaran, who wouldn’t have been overly happy with their performance the last day out.
This one could go the distance and both teams will be confident of grabbing a last four place. Forkhill may just nick it, but a result either way wouldn’t be much of a surprise.
