In the build up to this weekend’s Junior Football decider at Celtic Park (3pm) we asked local GAA reporters and figures to become pundits for the day and predict the outcome of Sunday’s game. Let us know your thoughts on twitter using @DoireGAA and/or #DerryJFC.
Ronan Scott (Gaelic Life)
Ardmore have plenty of experience with a nucleus of players who are over 30. They can also rely on a forward line who know how to find the net. However, Doire Trasna have a couple of star players, not least Colin Murrary. They also have experienced men such as the 41-year-old Enda Lindsay who will try to keep things calm on the big day. Verdict: Doire Trasna.
Alan Nash (Derry Football and Hurling Referee)
Two teams, one parish. For me, Doire Trasna should win this game handy but championship wins are never handy. With Paul Quigley ruling the skies at midfield, the fire power of Murray, Starrett and the McNaughts in the forwards will be crucial. Even if Ardmore can get a foot hold there, they will have to pass the impressive Eoghan Carlin. Verdict: Doire Trasna.
Chris Collins (Derry Games Development Manager)
Firstly, best of luck to both teams on Sunday. It’s 2001 since I last won the Junior championship with Ogra Colmcille against Ardmore and it really gave us the belief to kick on and get out of junior football and retain our intermediate football status for the past six seasons.
I know from playing against the two teams that they will both believe they can win. I am going to predict a Doire Trasna victory on Sunday. I feel they have slightly more mobility throughout their team and have the greater threat in their forward line. Verdict: Doire Trasna.
Conan Doherty (GAA Reporter with the Derry Post and Inish Times)
It’s hard to look past Trasna. Pearses of late are not a junior side. They have struggled for results in Division Two but they held their own with the best of them up there. Most of that is down to the dominant force that is Paul Quigley who has a pair of the best hands in the county and gives them an anchor in the middle that is often unplayable. He will do the same on Sunday. Verdict: Doire Trasna.
Michael Wilson (GAA Reporter with the Derry Journal)
The easy thing to say is Trasna are firm favourites. The league table tells us that and the Championship so far has seen Brian McKenna’s men defeat both Ardmore and Magilligan. Except that’s not how it works, especially when teams in the Junior section do not get games week in, week out. That makes maintaining form difficult and leaves today’s final much more of a 50/50 battle. The two teams know each other so well and there are match winners on both sides. Ardmore love being underdogs as Trasna found out in the final of 2010 and there are more than a few similarities between that scenario and this final. That will suit Ardmore. This is their whole season in 60 minutes.
If Trasna can produce their best form they should win but anything less will open the door for William McLaughlin’s men. Verdict: Doire Trasna.
Cahair O’Kane (GAA Reporter with the Derry Post)
Ardmore will score goals against any team. They were probably unlucky not to score four or five against Drum, and ought to have won the game by more than a point. They have to tighten up at the back though, the goals they conceded were very poor. Trasna's form is the best in the league. They are tighter in defence and Colin Murray's playing well up front. There won't be much in it. Verdict: Doire Trasna
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