Belfry Senior Football Championship Final

Sunday 2nd October, 4pm, Markievicz Park

St. Mary's v Tourlestrane

A county final is hardly new territory for either Tourlestrane or St Mary’s, but there’s no doubt both sides will be feeling the tension as the big day draws ever closer.

Two of the most decorated sides in Sligo GAA clash on Sunday afternoon with the Owen B Hunt cup on the line, and it promises to be a cracker.

Three weeks have passed since the semi-final stage, and both teams will be eager to hit the pitch at the weekend to put an end to the prolonged build-up.

For Tourlestrane – the kingpins of the championship over the past 20 years – it offers an opportunity to reclaim the title they last won in 2013, while St Mary’s have the opportunity to write themselves into the history books as the first team to retain the title since St Patrick’s in 1988/89.

It is curious that no team, particularly Tourlestrane given their prominence in the winners enclosure in recent decades, has managed the feat, but St Mary’s could be well placed to do just that this weekend.

While they are minus some key players from last year’s title-winning campaign, they are a young side with a habit of winning championships at underage level, while the experience of Mark Breheny, Johnny Davey and Johnny Lynch compliments the youthful endeavour that is in abundance throughout the squad.

Their motivation is high to win, but perhaps Tourlestrane’s is greater.

Two years without a title is a long time in their book – they captured the crown on a bi-annual basis in 2007, 2009, 2011 and 2013 – but with stalwarts Eamonn O’Hara and Gerry McGowan on the sideline overseeing matters, there certainly appears to be a bite to their play this year.

They overcame a sticky quarter-final with Coolaney/Mullinabreena and had a more straightforward run-out against Eastern Harps in the semi-final, but they will know St Mary’s present a formidable challenge.

There is a healthy rivalry between the teams with an intriguing town vs county element to the tie, and one feels that it could go right down to the wire.

St Mary’s overcame Tourlestrane after a replay in their last championship meeting at the semi-final stage last year, and if that episode is anything to go by, this should be a memorable county final for the neutral as well as Gaels from either club.

The Owen B Hunt cup will be in familiar territory whoever wins – both clubs have amassed 11 titles each to date – but the 12^th will no doubt be the sweetest yet for the victors.

Let the battle commence.