It’s no surprise that St Patrick’s and St Paul’s are the two teams competing on the final day of the Intermediate Championship.
They’re both unbeaten throughout the campaign, having topped their groups and came through the knockout stages.
Arguably, before a ball was kicked, they were tipped as the two best teams in the competition. Although Culloville were in that conversation as well having won the league.
But looking at Sunday’s match up, it’s clear to see what has got both teams to this stage. Good old fashion firepower.
In five championship outings, Cullyhanna have recorded 10-86 and have hit the net in every single game.
St Paul’s have scored quite as much having hit 9-75 and have raised a green flag in four of their five games.
Aidan Nugent has been the main man up top for Cullyhanna and only Keady’s James O’Hara has scored more in the championship.
Nugent rattled off goals against Tullysaran and Middletown in the group stages as well as against Derrynoose in the quarter-final.
But it’s certainly not a one-man show in the St Patrick’s attack. They have scoring options coming from everywhere.
Shea Hoey needs watched at centre half forward while Jason Duffy and Ross McQuillan have been scoring freely.
Scoring power
Their half back line is an attack-minded unit, but the likes of Sean Connell and Sean Og Irwin will have to stay back and mind the house.
Connell could be given the biggest job of all in trying to halt Andrew Murnin. The All-Star nominee rattled off a hattrick of goals against Keady.
That brought his overall tally to 6-11 for the championship and he has hit goals in three of their five encounters.
St Paul’s had 11 different scorers in total the last day out and have nabbed 9-75 in their championship games to date.
And the midfield battle will be interesting as McConville and Niall McCorry come up against Pearse Casey and Jason Duffy.
Cullyhanna usually squeeze the opposition kickouts as they know they have the power and strength to dominate the middle.
So, St Paul’s may want to get the ball away quickly from their kickout. If all else fails, they could pull Murnin into the middle, but they would lose his influence up top.
The two teams have met in the league of course, both sides winning one and losing one. That perhaps highlights how tight this is going to be and it’s sure to go right down to the wire.
