ALL-Ireland successes in the past will count for nothing when Derry’s Ballinderry and Cavan’s Arva meet in Saturday’s rescheduled Ulster Intermediate Club Football final.
Ballinderry were Ireland’s high kings at senior level back in 2002 while Arva won the All-Ireland junior title last season and, after Storm Darragh forced the postponement of this decider last weekend, the finalists will do battle at Omagh’s Healy Park on Saturday (5pm).
Both clubs remain ambitious and focussed and Ballinderry manager Jarlath Bell, who was part of that ‘02 success, says there’s little to choose between them.
“I see we’re favourites now but I wouldn’t read too much into that,” said Bell.
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“I’ve been very impressed by Arva. This junior thing, people have questioned me on it, even outside the club. It’s in people’s minds that they won the All-Ireland last year, but they won the (Cavan) Intermediate this year and they’re also playing senior league in Cavan and I think they finished third.
“So they’re no more junior… They’re an outfit on the upward trajectory that are very much heading towards senior championship aspirations. So we’re not buying that, they’re a formidable side with six or seven Cavan representatives on the team so they’re a good team.”
Ballinderry have county quality too including 2023 Allstar Gareth McKinless who has been cleared of play after suspension. Together with his brother Daniel, Darren Lawn and Ryan Bell, McKinless forms an experienced quartet that was involved in the Shamrocks’ last Ulster title in 2013.
“It’s funny because it’s been a mixture of youth and experience at times, in the early rounds of Derry the older hands steadied the ship,” said manager Bell.
“Then in the final, especially in the replay against Faughanvale, the younger lads really stepped up. There’s been a good mix of youth and experience. So that comes in handy and against Derrylaughan the likes of Darren and Daniel came on and steadied the ship, you need those cool heads.”
With goalkeeper Ben McKinless pushing out at every opportunity, Ballinderry picked off points with sweeping attacks and looked on course for victory in their semi-final over Tyrone champions Derrylaughan. Ben McKinless scored one himself from play to leave four in it but with five minutes to go he was left stranded deep in Derrylaughan territory as a move broke down and Ciaran Gervin practically walked the ball into the empty net.
However, the Shamrocks dragged themselves out of trouble and Shea McCann replied to win it for the Derry outfit.
“If we had lost that game it would’ve been a nightmare,” said Bell.
“I wouldn’t want to see that again but it just goes to show you how quickly the game can change and it’s probably reflected in the modern game.
“Once you commit so many men up the pitch at different stages, especially a goalkeeper like Ben who comes out the field, it’s risk and reward when you’re leaving yourself so open.
“We made hard work of it as we’ve tended to do this year but look it was nothing we didn’t expect from Derrylaughan. I thought you could clearly see mutual respect between the two teams.
“That was probably expected being near neighbours. But I suppose overall when you reflect on the game we had nine wides in total, we kicked a couple short, a couple blocked down.
“So I’d imagine even Derrylaughan would have to admit on the day we deserved our victory but we wouldn’t have been happy with our performance so we’re going to have to tidy that up a bit, that’s for sure.”