TYRONE LADIES CHAMPIONSHIP WEEKEND

After several rounds of  league football in the county the focus is now on the adult championships in Tyrone. The WJ Dolan championships open with games in the four championship grades and while attention will be most likely centre on the senior competition there´s some tasty action at Intermediate and junior grades too.

Starting with the WJ Dolan senior championship Beragh will host possibly the tie of the round, reigning champions Errigal Ciaran will face the most successful ladies club in Tyrone football An Charraig Mhor on Sunday evening. Errigal finally got their hands on the Jarleth Kerr cup and went one better to clinch the Ulster crown too and  they still look good. Another big won at the weekend sets them up against a Charraig Mhor team that also hit five goals at the weekend against Moy on route to another victory. Gemma Begley remains the chief score getter for Carmen, she was also pivotal for Ulster at the weekend as they picked up the Inter provincial title. Many feel the winners of this one will have a big say as to where the honours end up later in the year. Siobhan McGarvey , Lycrcia Quinn, successful county minor skipper Shannon Quinn and Sarah Connolly all going well for Errigal and they will be a force again, after tasting success in 2007 they are certainly hungry for more silverware. Injury problems tough are an issue in both camps at this stage.

Beaten finalists St Macartans will also have a bit to say as to the championship destination, they were big winners over Ardboe in their last league outing. The Clogher Valley team play new girls Glenelly at Dromore on Friday night and will have an eye on the action at Kildress on Saturday as Moy play St Dympnas, the winners of that one face Macartans or Glenelly in the semi-final.St Dympnas should start favourites against the Moy who have struggled this term.

The senior championship opens on Thursday though at Rock with Ardboe aiming to clinch a semi-final berth at the expense of the CarolMcGlinchey driven Aodh Ruadh, The Dungannon team slipped up to a one point loss at Glenelly on Thursday last, they have a couple of injury doubts too and Ardboe appearing in their first senior campaign will be keen to progress .

Firing on all cylinders Aghyaran are tipped to make an impact in the WJ Dolan Intermediate championship this term, they have the honour of opening the championship action this Thursday against Trillick at Drumquin. Both teams have enjoyed league wins of late and this is set to be a close one at Wolfe Tones.

Badoney clinched the junior title in 2007 and they have Ciaran Woods back at the helm again, they did suffer a loss last week at Trillick after a couple of good league outings, no doubt Woods will want to see his charges bounce back in the championship against Cill Iseal.  Galbally the venue for that one on Saturday night. Cappagh suffered a loss at the weekend away to Sperrin Og, this Friday its Beragh for a Cappagh side who have one of the most potentially lethal forwards in the ladies game, Clodagh Poyntz. The forward has a stunning knack of getting scores and turning games but she will face a stern test against the Red Knights. Sperrin Og are also keen to progress and on this occasion as they play Fr Rocks they could advance. The Greencastle club have Eimear Teague back in action and the McCullaghs are also capable of turning in a good shift, they should be too strong for Fr Rocks, but this of course is championship football.

The Junior championship has an unfamiliar name in the mix this term, Omagh St Endas failed to finish division two last season and in turn slipped a grade, they open against the strong Clann Na Gael on Thursday at Drumquin. Anne and Carol Dooher are plying their trade with the Clann side and this could be an interesting tie. Omagh have come back stronger under Paul O´Neill and have an abundance of talent, the experience of Michaela O´Neill and Nicola Canavan coupled with the defensive quality of Christiane Hunter and the score getting of Kelly O´Sullivan. The Junior championship could be really close, with teams all taking points of each other in the league campaign so far. High scoring Loughmacrory will fancy their chances for the title, they meet Sigersons at Fintona on Friday night. Paddy Fox will have his players focused on this one, a semi-final spot against the winners of Kildress and Fintona. Beragh plays host to that tie on Sunday at 6-30pm.

Galbally have missed out on silverware over the years but they remain one of the constant performers in the Tyrone game, a great blend of youth and experience should see them through at Pomeroys expense.

The Junior B championship will be hard to call, An Charraig Mhor B took the honours last season but face a difficult opener against free scoring Donaghmore at Galbally. Drumquin have found scoring easy too this term and after their opponents Aodh Ruadh B shipped eight goals last week, the Wolfe Tones girls could be too strong. Coalisland indeed beat the Dungannon team last time out and the Fianna will play Drumragh. The Sarsfields continue to develop as a team and will have one of the country´s hottest property´s leading them on Sunday. Neamh Woods captained Ulster to the Inter provincial title last week and she is certainly key to Drumraghs performance, no pressure then on the UUJ student .

An Charraig meanwhile play Mna Na Deirge at Dromore on Friday night, both lost out in recent league games, but one will go through to the last four and a meeting with Dungannon or Drumquin.

So a hectic weekend of top quality ladies championship action, no doubt the Tyrone senior management will be keeping a close watch on proceedings too s they build up for Sunday weeks clash with Down in the Ulster championship. Thee will however be no quarter given in this intensive weekend of games again supported by Willie John Dolan. The deal now in its third year has boosted ladies football dramatically within the county.

Speaking at the Launch of the championship season in Tyrone this week Chairperson Anne Marie Meehan welcomed the sponsorship and support and also took time to thank the clubs that are paying host to the 16 games this weekend,

" Without the support of the host clubs we could not even attempt to have the games played, people give their time freely to help ladies football and we as a county should be proud of the young and not so young footballers that will give their all this weekend. For some this will be the biggest game of the season others will progress and have further big days but all the players, officials and supporters this is what its all about"

Supporters are being urged to go along and support their own clubs over the weekend of games, quality fayre on offer throughout at six venues.