They say that familiarity breeds contempt and that change is as good as a break, but one thing is for certain is that there will be no secrets between Loughinisland and Bredagh when they clash tonight.
Victory means a place in the last 12 of the Down Morgan Fuels Senior Club Championship and a game against Division Two side Longstone on Tuesday, September 1.
Of course, both teams will know a lot about each other because Bredagh manager Brendan Mason is a Loughinisland clubman, he managed the senior team and his son Rory is one of the key players for the Blues.
Also, Loughinisland boss Jody Gormley is involved with Bredagh, he manages the U18 team at Cherryvale and he was the Bredagh senior boss for five years before he swapped roles with Mason two years ago.
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So, both managers will have as much insight into the players on the opposing team than perhaps their own, if not more.
The Blues have been missing one of their top forwards Stefan Mason, this year as he has been out of the country but there have been rumours that he could play some part tonight and that would be a huge boost for Loughinisland.
It promises to be an interesting tie and Bredagh will feel they are the team on an upward curve, whereas Loughinisland’s Blue Wave hasn’t been making as big a splash this year.
Captain John McKenna didn’t feature in Bredagh’s defeat to Rostrevor last week and his presence in midfield was a huge loss. He is a great leader and experienced campaigner and his return is a massive shot in the arm for the Cherryvale side.
Players like young Cormac O’Rawe have come to prominence this season and Bredagh selector Simon Francis says they are starting to bare the fruit of an excellent youth policy.
“We have had a number of younger players coming into the senior squad over the last few years but it does take about three or four years to physically be capable of the demands, with the odd exception who can come straight in,” said Francis.
“We are starting to get those younger players who have done their three or four years at reserve football and are now physically capable of playing and we hope that will be the case over the next couple of years as well.”
Cormac O’Rawe is only 18 years old while Brendan Gallen, Sean Blaney and Liam O’Keefe are all 21 and under and they have forced their way into the Bredagh starting team.
Loughinisland will rely on big performances from Rory Mason, Dan Gordon and Declan McClements and victory would give them the perfect opportunity to gain revenge against Benny Coulter’s Longstone next week.
The Bredagh selector is expecting a tough contest but he has confidence in his side.
“It is do or die now, there is no more back-door after this,” said Francis.
“This is proper championship now and it is all to play for.”
Bredagh face Loughinisland tonight (Friday) in Pairc Esler, Newry, with a 7.45pm throw-in, while the postponed game between Carryduff and RGU Downpatrick also takes place tonight in Liatroim at 7.30pm.
It is also worth noting that the quarter-final draw will follow Sunday’s knockout game between Kilcoo and Burren.
