Teams named for big charity game

With no bad weather expected at the weekend, it is hoped that a big crowd will turn out to support the St Vincent de Paul society which will receive all the proceeds on the day.

Players from all of the north Armagh clubs will be taking part and so far the series has collected over £4000.

This year’s game will be the fourth to date and in previous encounters the country team has won two out of the three ties.

Éire Óg’s participation in their Ulster junior Championship semi-final against Tyrone side Derrytresk has ruled their players out of this year’s charity game, but big numbers have still declared for the event which once again will be keenly contested.

Players and managers are asked to be at the Clann Éireann social club in Lake Street for 1pm on Sunday for a roll-call before travelling to the ground. With the player interchange system again in place, the game will be 35 minutes each way.

The Town and Country cup is sponsored by the Lurgan Mail and Portadown Times newspapers, and Eugene Creaney from the ‘Mail’ believes that if the pleasant weather which is forecasted materialises, the turn out on the day should be good.

He said: “There would appear to be a window of opportunity regarding the weather forecast for this weekend and the covered stand at Clann Éireann will certainly provide a bonus for fans.

“In an ideal world we would loved to have had the Éire Óg boys on board but they will be focusing on their Ulster semi against Derrytresk at Casement, but the hope is that they can send representatives to the press event in the Clann Éireann clubrooms scheduled for 5.30pm on Sunday along with the silverware won this season”.

The fact that Sunday’s Under-21 Championship games have been pencilled in for 11.30am will allow both sets of supporters from the Maghery and Sarsfields clubs time to attend Sunday’s charity game if they so wish.

Eugene Creaney believes that some supporters who were planning to travel to Belfast to take in the Crossmaglen-Ballinderry game may throw their weight behind Sunday’s big charity game instead.

He added: “It was difficult this year to pin players down to an exact date. Seasons in the GAA would appear to be getting longer each year, but with wet weather forecast for later in the month it would have been unfair on the Clann Éireann club to be asking for a pitch during a period of rain.

“There is no doubt that the double header at Casement Park is a big draw, but rather than take a chance with the weather later in the year and run the risk of depriving families of much needed help, it was decided to stick with Sunday’s date.”

Fans can look forward to seeing the top players from north Armagh line out on Sunday.

Several county players from the area have declared for the game including Brian Mallon, Paul Carville, Stephan Forker, Finnian Moriarty and Ryan Henderson.

The teams are as follows:

Town team - P. Wilson (St. Peter’s), R. McCaughley (St. Paul’s), M. Austin (Clan na Gael), C. McCormack (Tír na nÓg), C. McCaffery (Clan na Gael), B. McDonald (Tír na nÓg), J. Stewart (Clan na Gael), A. Murnin (St. Paul’s), M. Beattie (Clann Éireann), D. McNally (St. Peter’s), B. Mallon (Tír na nÓg), C. Bell (Clann Éireann), S. Campbell (Clan na Gael), R. Henderson (Clann Éireann), P. Carville (Tír na nÓg).

Interchange players: D. Shanks (Clann Éireann), D. McKernan (Clann Éireann), O. McCormack (St. Peter’s), R. Geary (St. Peter’s), N. McPartland (St. Paul’s), D. McCluskey (St. Paul’s), R. Magennis (Clan na Gael).

Country Team - J. McKeever (Ballyhegan), N. Lennon (Wolfe Tones), P. Magee (Sarsfields), R. Devlin (Ballyhegan), A. Haughian (Sarsfields), F. Moriarty (Wolfe Tones), R. McQuillan (Wolfe Tones), B. Lavery (Sarsfields), J McCarron (Wolfe Tones), A.N. Other (Maghery), P McGaughey (Sarsfields), R. Cunningham (Clonmore), P. Marley (Ballyhegan), A.N. Other (Maghery), P O’Donnell (Clonmore).

Interchange players: R. Convie (Clonmore), Eamon McGeown (Sarsfields), S. McNally (Ballyhegan), D. McAvoy (Sarsfields), A.N. Other (Maghery), A.N. Other (Wolfe Tones).