TYRONE WJ DOLAN CHAMPIONSHIP ACTION

Its back to the domestic scene this weekend for Tyrone ladies football with the WJ Dolan championship semi-finals pencilled however the Tyrone county board have been hampered with venue problems.

The fixtures committee have been pulling out the stops to try and secure venues for the ten ties down for decision from Thursday evening , but even at this late stage there are still problems. It certainly doesn´t make things easy for anyone concerned but the clubs will have to prepare regardless and there´s some quality games on offer.

Starting with the senior football championship and the An Charraig Mhor Aodh Ruadh tie opens the senior grade last four ties on Friday night. Both clubs enjoyed good quarterfinal victories, Carrickmore dethroned the county and provincial champions Errigal Ciaran while Dungannon had no major problems overturning Ardboe.

Last weekend Tyrone fielded with a powerful all Carrickmore full forward line that included Lynette Hughes who in the club championship tie a week earlier lined out at full back, her deployment against Aodh Ruadh could provide as interesting as the tie itself. Martina Dillon could be busy too with Begley and Gormley leading the "Carmen" attack.

The second semi-final features St Macartans and St Dympnas on Sunday evening with the Clogher Valley side starting as favourites to make the county final again. They just ooze quality, from Maura Kelly through Lynda Donnelly to up front and the dangerous duo, Cathy and Joline Donnelly. That all said Dromore are not just going to make up the numbers, they will challenge Macartans all the way in what promises to be a good weekend.

The WJ Dolan Intermediate football championship will be the warm up acts for the senior ties this coming weekend but theses games are shaping up to even eclipse those. After the quarter finals it will be hard to pick the eventual winners from the last four encounters. Fr Rocks surprised a few pundits with a good win over a fancied Sperrin Og and will give one of the other tipped sides Beragh a real run for their money on Friday evening. A good encounter is on the cards then.

Unbeaten Trillick will certainly have a say as to where the championship will end up this season, the Reds play a Ciaran Woods inspired Badoney and this tie could indeed be the game of the weekend. Quality abounds from both teams and with Brendan Donnelly Trillick have a master tactician, if he doesn´t know how to win championship games then no-one does.

The Junior championship last time out produced a cracker as Clan Na Gael beat Omagh, this Saturday its Drumquin again for the clan girls again as they face Galbally Onagh Celts. Mairead Conwell and Anne Dooher were the key performers against St Endas but they will have to be at their best again against the East Tyrone outfit.

The other semi-final at this grade features Kildress and Loughmacrory, both confident they can advance. It´s a double header at the Wolfe tones fine new facilty and there should be a good crowd.

In the Junior B competition high scoring sides go head to head in both games, Donaghmore will face Drumragh on Thursday night at Loughmacrory while An Charraig play Drumquin on Sunday at Galbally. Drumragh will hope Neamh Woods has recovered from injury to help their cause against the free scoring East Tyrone club.

Drumquin have heir sights firmly fixed on the final, after several years of re-establishing themselves a final berth would be a worthy reward for all the effort. An Charraig have a youthful squad and will be difficult to get past though.

The senior B championship competition will feature Errigal Ciaran facing Ardboe and Moy playing Glenelly.