GAA: Countdown begins for Celtic Park showpiece

Celtic Park on Sunday, October 3 at 3.45pm will provide the venue for the local club's biggest test in their fifty plus years in existence.

Not only is this the 'blue riband' final for club footballers in the Oak Leaf county but the team Eoghan Rua face, Ballinderry, rank among the Crossmaglen's, Nemo Rangers, Kilmacud Crokes etc of club football in the country.

That's the size of the challenge Eoghan Rua face in their first ever final, to say that Ballinderry will provide formidable opposition would be a massive understatement of what lies ahead.

Ballinderry will be firm favourites, their never-say-die attitude was never more evident than in their semi-final win over Lavey.

Five points down going into added time they blasted home two goals and a point to leave Lavey not just a beaten side but totally shell shocked. The devastation that Lavey must feel could so easily have been visited on the Eoghan Rua men in their semi-final also.

Two points up, with the announced added time also up, Ballinascreen were given a last gasp opportunity from a free just 20 metres out.

Only a goal would do, the ball was blasted in and it pinged off a couple of Eoghan Rua defenders in the goalmouth before being cleared to the sound of the final whistle.

This year's county final will be a novel pairing featuring the new boys on the block, Eoghan Rua against the masters of championship football in Derry, Ballinderry.

Both camps continue their preparations for the main showdown of the season and with just days to go they will be hoping that all will be ready for the big day.

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