Championship final fever is building for Coalisland Fianna

CHAMPIONSHIP final fever is building in Coalisland as the community anticipates Sunday’s evening’s O’Neill Cup decider against Dromore.

Hundreds of supporters will make the journey to Omagh by car and bus to cheer on their local heroes while local people now living overseas, or those who can’t get to the game, will watch it on Tyrone GAA TV.

Blue and white bunting has replaced the red and white after Tyrone’s heady exploits in winning the Sam Maguire Cup, while Coalisland Fianna flags adorn businesses and homes in the area.

Leo Quinn and Shane McDonald are local youth workers and avid Fianna supporters who follow the team the length and breadth of the county.

Leo, who is Leader for the Mid Ulster Education Authority Youth Service, was born into the Coalisland Fianna way of life. His late father Tommy was secretary of the club for almost 20 years and drove the team bus. Leo was on the bus in 1981 with the players when he attended his first county final at Intermediate level, which ended in defeat to Aghyaran. The team was back in a senior football a few years later and in 1989 won the O’Neill Cup for the first time since 1955.

Leo recalled, “That was a great team and I was playing underage at the time and we really looked up to those players like Paddy McShane, ‘Baldo’ (Martin O’Neill) and Tony Quinn. It is a great inspiration for young people seeing their senior players getting to a final. They are heroes to the youth.”

DISTINCTION

Leo went on to serve the club with distinction as committee member, cultural officer and underage and senior manager. Many of the underage players he coached went on to play in the 2007 final, which they lost to Sunday’s opponents Dromore.

Leo added, “That was a very young team, ahead of their time and I was thrilled when they came back three years later in 2010 and won the championship. Five or six of them are still playing and have given so much to the Fianna for the last 14 years and more.

“The whole panel and management is a credit and the place is buzzing. This definitely brings a community together.”

Shane McDonald, Leader at Ógras Youth Centre, said the success of the Fianna has created “great excitement” among young people.

“Everyone at the youth club is talking about the game and making their plans. There is a bus load of young supporters going and it will be lively! We have 400 young people a week using the club and there is a feelgood atmosphere with the ending of restrictions and this is adding to it. We have worked in partnership with the Fianna on a number of projects and had the captain Paudie Hampsey here doing fitness programmes for the boys.

“We can’t wait for Sunday!”