 Well, it's a very good evening and welcome along to another edition of The Scores coming up to six minutes past seven o'clock on this Thursday and on tonight's program we'll be talking soccer and in particular League of Ireland Irish League and Ulster Senior League football with former Fanharps manager Anthony Gorman. Martin McHugh runs the rule over this weekend's Ulster Championship games as Derry and Theron start their campaigns. We'll be hearing from Donegal Harding manager Mickey McCann later as they get their championship up and running against Fermanagh and Sturban Rugby Club are involved in the Gordon West plate final. That's taking place on Saturday on the program this evening. We will be joined by their captain Jimmy Hamilton. So we've got a busy program between now and eight o'clock, but we're going to start with some sad news this evening. Attributes have been paid to Irish rally driver Craig Breen who has died following an accident in Croatia. The Waterford native had been participating in a pre-test event ahead of the Croatia rally. Breen's co-driver James Fulton was unharmed in the incident. Motorsport Ireland have described Breen who was 33 as a model competitor and as we know Breen of course competed here in Donegal on several occasions. Joining me in studio is a man that knows a thing or two about rallying that of course is letter Kenny Mann, Rory Kennedy and I suppose Rory. Glad to have you in studio, but it's not a nice thing to be discussing this evening. Another dark day for Motorsport and rallying. Unfortunately another very dark day for Motorsport and rallying in Ireland. This news filtered through this afternoon, early this afternoon of Craig's untimely demise. Just to say we're all devastated as an understatement really. As you know Craig was a great supporter of the Donegal rally and has been here on quite a number of occasions. I think maybe on the last occasion on 19 maybe, he was pushing for the lead in Sam Alford, we're having a brilliant rally at that time. So as I say we're all, the whole rallying fraternity in Ireland and beyond are totally devastated with this news today. Yeah and listen, a hugely talented driver Rory and he worked us right up to the top of the tree and rallying so he did. It was very true Rory Austin because he started in all the junior classes and came all the way up and graduated up and he won the, I think he won the FASTST championship which got him a junior driver in the World Championship. 2011. 2011. And that was only his second year because he was carting an 09 and that was only his second year. It was remarkable really the achievement and he won it on the last stage by one second I think which even adds to the track, you know the whole occasion. And as I say Craig, only last Saturday, Austin's hard to believe, only last Friday night we were chatting to Craig and his dad Ray at the circuit of Ireland. We're all staying in Cookstown the night before the start of the rally. We're all out having the crack and he was very generous with his time. He always had time for everybody and all competitors from the top right down through the classes and so on. So much so that he was even part of the junior 1000 category on Easter Monday and they had a test day. If you like down in Tina and County Callaway and Craig and Eugene Donnelly and quite a few other drivers were there. And this is Cookstown young drivers. Young drivers are only getting their driving licenses and they rally 1000cc cars. So Craig was there. So I was to say very, very generous with his time and you know was very much part of that risk for eternity. Yeah, I suppose in motorsport as well, Rory, particularly when you're at a world level you're judged on two things. The number of world championships you have and have you won and have you been the fastest in Finland. And he was very much on course for without doubt being one of the fastest in Finland and you never know what was going to happen down the line in the world championship front. Well, that's true, Oshin. And even before we just touch on that, you know, to get to the world championship in the first place, don't forget he's an Irish driver and there's not many other than Chris Meek and maybe a lesser extent Billy Coleman in the past that have gotten there that had gotten to the same level. So it was a remarkable achievement to get there. And once he got there, he really made his mark. You know, first of all, he was the number three driver for only about three or four years ago and did some sterling work for them the same with Citron. And even to finish the year, Chris Meek won rally Finland. It's important to say that Craig finished third that year as well. And like rally Finland, Finland's a spiritual home for rallying and it's the fastest rally in the world and Craig on that rally was outstanding and he has been in the past as well with Hyundai so much so that a lot of people considered him as favourite for this year's event. Yeah, just finally then, we'll be thinking of his family and we send our condolences to the brain family and in particular his dad, Ray, of course, who was a huge motorsport man as well. But there's a lot of shocks today. So there is filtering through the rally family, the rally fraternity, Roy. Huge shock. Oshin, as I said previously, you know, when this word comes through the phones are just pinging, messages and WhatsApps for ages there. But you know, when you think of Craig, he drove for Ford last year and he had a nightmare year really. The thing didn't come together and I think mid-season, they parted and went their separate ways. And he came back this year with Hyundai and the second rally of the year. He finished second overall for Hyundai and I'll never forget his comment at the end of the stage. He was always fantastic, you know, on the camera and the microphone was put to him at the end of the stage and he says, you know, you should never really let anybody put you down. You should always believe in your own potential. And he really did. And you know, as far as I was trying, he really does all very pride and I was a delight to see him there. And it's, you know, going forward, it's going to be tragic. Like when the rallies come on that he's not there ever again. And we did hope that we would see him back in Donegal at some stage after 2019 because he was really on the pace. When you have something like Craig Green, you want to see him back competing in the international. Unfortunately, we're not going to see that now with what is passing today. It's been a difficult day for anybody that's a fan of rallying that is entrenched in the sport like you are, Rory. And again, it's been a difficult day and I appreciate you coming on to talk to us this evening. OK, Oshin, thanks. Thank you, Osh, Rory Kennedy. OK, we're going to take a quick commercial break here on the score on Highland and you can join us for more with Martin McHugh and the Ghillie Games front after these. Sport on Highland is brought to you by Michael Murphy Sports and Leisure Letter Kenny with premium running footwear from top brands like Asics, New Balance, Brooks, Adidas and Under Armour. See MichaelMurphySports.ie. Hello, how can I help you? I'm looking to claim on my insurance policy. OK, and what type of chip do you need to claim for? It's not a chip. I was in a minor accident. And was your windscreen chipped in this accident? No, it's just my backlight in the bumper. So your windscreen is not chipped? No. Unfortunately, our policies only cover chips. Do you get the feeling that you're not getting the right cover? 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Big one for Ross Commons and obviously if you're a man, Mark, who's involved in the coaching set up there. Yeah, massive one for them. Maybe Mayo took the high off a ball after one in the league final the week before. Maybe we're actually thinking about Galway and that there in the next match and something that happens, you know, the hungrier team comes out on top and I felt that, you know, Ross Commons definitely deserved to have won it. I mean, that maybe not a lot of teams will want to play against down the road because they look forward now to Galway and next week end and that's a big game for them as well because the winners of that, you feel, would have a great chance of one in Connacht and getting seeded number one. So the big thing about one in your province is getting seeded number one. So and they end up now Mayo who won the National League. One of the favourites to win the All-Ireland are going to end up being seeded by a very, very tough group and the groups of four, you know, over the header. Maybe that result last Sunday was common beaten Mayo. In relation to Ulster, Derry, the defending champions from last year. Our Derry, I suppose, as we go to the first game, going to make a statement on Saturday evening that they mean serious business because it's championship time, Martin, against Firmana. Yeah, I suppose, looking at it from a Derry point of view, I mean, progress this year will be to basically get to the All-Ireland final. One in Ulster will be a bonus from the point of view of they're saying to themselves that we can one Ulster here. We avoid, you know, the Dublin, the Care East and probably they're saying maybe Galway in Connacht that you invite three, that's three of the top four or five teams in the country. So you avoid them, you know, you're going to a different group with them and, you know, that's probably the big thing about one in your province. It's not really all about one in the province. It's great to want a provincial championship. I think for the teams that are looking further down the road, I think getting seated number one can probably end up being the most important thing. So from Derry's point of view, they'll be disappointed with the performers in the league final. Now, they scored as much as Dublin did in 10 scores, but they conceded the four goals and they'll be disobeying that because they normally don't concede goals, but it's also when Conor Glass went off in the middle of the field and Chrissy McCague didn't play to pick up Conor Callan, who caused them a lot of trouble. That's what happened. But I'm hearing that both of them are fit for Saturday night and we'll be playing which is a big plus for Derry because they have a small squad. And the other thing is Kearn McFall is going really well in training. He's back home from America and he's maybe the plus that they do need this year, because they'll do, you know, they're going to need more up front, particularly if they're going to won the All-Ireland, they're definitely going to need more players up front. They've locker Murray, who's a year older now from the under he'll be a big help to them as well. But I think Kearn McFall, I think he'll get some game time even on Saturday night because they'll feel they'll want to get them in there to get them ready for they probably feel it'll be maybe Turone that they'll be meeting in the Ulster semi-final and that will end up being a very, very big game because of the seeding for the championship down the road. We've seen teams before, Martin. I'll use Donny Gull as the example at the time under Jim's reign that Rory was obviously part of. We've seen this progress from 2011 and then into 12 where they won the All-Ireland and they changed the way they sort of added a different dynamic to the way they were playing football from the year before. Do you see that sort of evolution and dairy from where they were last year on their league performances when they're the way they're playing, the style of football that they're playing? Yeah, I think that's a very good point, Ozzy. I think the style of football they're playing if you go back and look at Donny Gull when they changed their style, when they got to Crow Park in Wales, when you met the Rory Cork on these teams who weren't going to be as defensive as maybe the Ulster teams you met up against and Dublin for that matter. But I think you have to kick the ball in Crow Park. But if you look at Donny Gull, particularly that team, you get a full forward line of Colm, Colm Anthony McFadden, you had Michael Murphy and your patty McBearty, three big men who would won their own ball, so Donny Gull could do that. Now, dairy probably don't have that luxury in their team that they can kick the ball in. That's where Kieran McFaulon make a difference. They play maybe out the field as a runner and give them that added advantage with the ball, but you're definitely in Crow Park. It might be any bigger than Clonus or any other pitch, or Balboffay for that matter, but the thing is it seems to play bigger and you have to kick the ball in Crow Park because you can't run at the length of feeling Crow Park. So I think that's the big thing with dairy and I think maybe that's what caught Glen Mahara as well in the All-Ireland club final is, you know, not the ability to kick the ball. We see Dublin when they get their kick, they get their kick, they get their kick, they kick the ball. We see Dublin when they get their carry, they kick the ball. You have to do that. I'd say definitely go back to the Donegal performance when Jim and Rory were together. They actually changed their style into Crow Park. I know you can say they had the players to do it, but dairy are definitely going to have to take that dimension into their game because we look at, you know, they're strong in the middle of the field, their defence is very, very solid as a unit, but then maybe up front, particularly the full team. We heard Kyle Cooney yesterday when we were, or last weekend, Martin, when we were returning from a match, he was tipping his home county of Tarone to win Ulster. Will Tarone be quite happy with everybody else talking about dairy as they head to their match against Monahan? And what sort of tie are you expecting between Monahan and Tarone? We have a huge rivalry when it comes to championship time. Yeah, I mean, that might be the problem with Tarone, they might probably have us chat away about dairy and Tarone or whatever, but it's important they don't take day off the ball and forget about Monahan because Monahan's, you know, this Monahan team, we looked at the team that played against Mayo the last day out and Conor McManus back with 1-7, Jack McArden with four points. You know, these players, they're still very, very good players and they'll make get marks and they'll work hard and, you know, it's like what we talked about the start here, Russ on Ulster or it's going to be this big drone dairy semifinal, where it's going to be played and where's everything going to happen, as most for Manon at the same boat saying we're at home in Ennis-Gillen and we'll show dairy what we're about as well, we're a good, you know, got promotion this year in Division 3, so but looking at Monahan, Monahan have got a lot of good players, Harden. Now, the big question is Tarone, where are they at pushing and that's a massive question because they were the three Ulster teams and they beat the three of them. Now, we look at it that two of them three have been relegated now to the second division, so how much can you read into that? The other one was Kerry and he felt Kerry coming to Oma that Tarone are going to be far more hungry, so that's the game, the big game that they're going on and even the last day against Arma, the one at what, 16-14 or something, but Arma was short reading and either it was a big blow and you expected it to be worth more than two points, so it'll be worth it. We know their defence always saw it, they needed Ronan McNamee back to won the game the last day and we know he'll carry a lot of injuries and if he hasn't kicked two points from play from Fallback, how big a leader he is to them. They're still depending a lot on Peter Harden, Maddie Donnelly, which are very important players and that has proven towards the end of the league that they needed a call on these players, particularly in the Kerry game when they needed men to stand up and lead these men did and I think looking at the end they have Dara Kenham and still a young lad but a very, very important cog and it creates a lot of what's happening up front and they've know a couple of young lads and everything coming in including Rory Kavanagh and everything else, so I think their midfield is starting to get stronger I think that's a big one for them, they seem to be stronger in that area and everything else, so yeah, still going to be a big test you know as I said you need the seeding is going to be important and from Manon's point of view, I know they're very happy to have stayed in division one they're guaranteed to be in the groups of four and everything else but I think they beat them there and it was 18 or 19 maybe it was 18 they ended up beating them and maybe thrown them and they went all out and finaled it or something but I remember the year they beat them anyway they beat them in Oma and you know so this Manon team still and they're still a good kick in Conor McManus, we talked about Jack McCarren, Conor McCarthy a lot of quality players there yet and the Q's and everything else on that Manon team so I wouldn't write Manon off completely but I'd be expecting to roll and to send out a message so we had to see what happens in those two games Mark just before we let you go obviously the following weekend we have Donegal in Nuri against Down and Antrim are also playing their others excuse me are playing their other semi-final against Kevin, can Donegal navigate their way through the other side of the draw? Well we look at it, we're talking about probably the two best teams that the Manon people are saying is going to be very into road and they're in the one side of the draw and they're going to meet in the semi-final so we can go on that well, we're impressive enough considering them being against Antrim but Antrim are very, very disappointed so we look at it from Down's point of view Donegal playing Down, I know Down under 20s at a big one last night look very impressive I know there are four or five of them lads in the senior panel and they're definitely improving Down they still didn't get promotion in our division 3 I know that Antrim really should have beaten them once they played them and so it's very hard to know where Down's at they're at home and everything else in the marshes they haven't been that impressive so I think for Donegal to get the momentum by getting a one to be important to get a victory and if you get a victory in the marshes against Down then you know confidence and everything else helps get players that are injured back and everything else and look and you know hopefully the training camp on that went well for them something else so you know there will not be as much pressure on them going up there and everything else but they're not going to play to their own or dairy in the first round they're going to Down's the marshes they haven't been that impressive anything else so I just think Donegal have a great chance if you look at the bookies they're still favorite farming else they never be far wrong so I think it's a great chance and I think we're well capable of one and one and in the marshes and coming out of there and that can give the whole county and everybody a laugh and we've had been needed Oshin so please God that will happen Sunday week. Okay fingers crossed Martin as always thanks for joining us on the score program Martin joy your evening. Thanks Oshin you too. There you go Martin McHugh you're talking dairy, taroon and Donegal GAA time for another commercial break when we return talking soccer with Anthony Gorman gear your club up for the season with a great range of footballs and training equipment from names like O'Neill's, Murphy's Precision and MITRE at Michael Murphy Sports & Leisure sponsors of sport on Highland Radio see MichaelMurphySports.ie Some people get up early every morning but on the morning of May 6th we want everyone to be up for the most important sunrise of the year whether it's your first time or tenth time join Pieta and Electric Ireland for this year's darkness into light on May 6th everyone's welcome sign up, take part and raise much needed funds for suicide prevention at darkness into light.ie and body repairs in their approved body shop look at service online this month and save 30 euro when you use the code Ford30 you're always in good hands at Hegarty's Ford turn a mug a letter Kenny, see Hegarty's.com What about Donegal and Swaftier under the closing weeks now of the season and you have a couple of huge games coming up listen he's just lost out Welcome back to the program this is Anthony Gorman talking soccer here on Highland Radio and it's the talking soccer section of the score program and we'll just get Anthony back in just a second, it is of course a busy weekend here on the weekends of League of Ireland action where of course is a number of ties involving north west sides Van Harp's back at home, they are taking on a treaty and that game is being played tomorrow night Friday, 8 o'clock starts and we will have updates here in Highland with Jeremy Daugherty Dairy City's match with Dundalk of course back to Sunday due to the American president being in County Louth this week so we're going to have to wait a couple of days before Dairy can try and get back to winning ways it's also been a big week in the Ulster League, Bonnegee and I are going 10 points clear of Cockhill at the top of the table and Anthony's own side is Dunganon Swiffs, currently assistant of course there at the Dunganon side, they are fighting for survival and that's how we began our piece on talking soccer this week What about Dunganon Swiffs, you're under the closing weeks now of the season and you have a couple of huge games coming up, listen he's just lost out in the Cup semi-final but the main focus of the league that's now is good priority and there's a big battle at the bottom, Courtney's are in the playoff place, can you make it out of that or how's things going to pan out over the next couple of weeks for Dunganon Well I think it's good to see we're five clear at Port of Down but we're also fired behind Uri and as you rightly say we're in the playoff place with three games to go we do have Port of Down and Uri to play in our last two games both at home now I suppose at this stage given the way results have gone and Port of Down have picked up a few results and Uri over the last couple of weeks so I suppose realistically you want to remain above Port of Down and we're trying to catch Uri but you know the way the other two have been going you take the playoff at this test and at this time and you know and take your chances in the playoff against the runners up in the championship but as I said previously our form our form's been quite good at times but we're lacking that goal score and we've dealt a massive blow there a couple of weeks for Reese Campbell who's been our talisman in terms of getting our goals and that Reese suffered an ACL injury and a totally innocuous challenge but it's just one of them things and it's had an effect on us over the last couple of weeks where we have struggled to get goals but we're still very hopeful and you know as I said our form has been quite good I believe that I'm consistent at times but we're certainly positive going on their last three games actually and it'll be a telling weekend both at the bottom and the top learn the opportunity to be crowned champions tomorrow night in their tie they are away from home against Crusaders Lairn will they be worthy champions in the Irish league? I think so regardless of whatever league you play in like if you come out on top after 38 games or whatever might be games you play to win a league you're worthy champions and Lairn it's been a gradual thing for the football club and particularly the owner Kenny Bruce who's probably come in about six years ago now and revamped the football club and they went to a full-time model and they also have a full-time academy and the house plan is to walk away after 10 years to leave the football club that is self-sustainable and you know and they've brought a real good factor about Lairn and I think the last couple of years they've been criticised for maybe being a wee bit soft at times when it came to the big games but this year that was also leveled at them but they've stood up and they've been counted in the big games when it's mattered and you know it'll be some story tomorrow or on Saturday if Lairn get the point required doing the league because as I said five six years ago Lairn were in the games of the championship in the Irish League and basically going nowhere and the credit as well and I'm not sure if many listeners will know about the management team of Tarnan Lynch who's played a wee quite a clip involved but never really made a real breakthrough but he focused and concentrated and coached him from a very young age and this is just a reward for Tarnan for all the work he's been over the last 20 years or so. In the football front in relation to the League of Ireland we'll touch on the Austro-Siener League before we finish up we did mention that but in terms of the League of Ireland and where Finn Harps are at and I suppose if you compare it to Lairn where they were five years ago in the bottom half of the championship Harps currently now in the bottom half of the First Division of the SSE, our trusty league and still just one out of what eight games played so far for Dave Rogers side Treaty of the Opposition, I suppose the most important thing is they're back at home and there's an opportunity there to get a second one on Friday night. There is, yeah, but I mean at the start of the season I certainly wouldn't have predicted that Treaty would have been doing certain second bottom action but from a Finn Harps point of view I think it's a fair reflection on the league position I think is a fair reflection on the performances and the results you know, at times they have played attractive football it is a young a young team that is, you know for a lot of the players, I think Dave Rogers said last weekend that there's nine players it's the first time playing senior football and that's well and good but you know, from a football point of view and, you know, Finn Harps will expect to be challenging at the top end of the league for promotion but it is a long it is a more long term project that is in place at Finn Park at the minute so they will be looking at at an opportunity to pick up more points this weekend with home to trade in and I suppose if we're trying to be positive and put a positive snap down after eight games they've only lost three games so they are quite difficult to beat you know, you take the bad result of water for a lot of it you know, they've been competitive in most games which is a positive for Dave Rogers and his team yeah, positive, surely on that front but what is it going to take to get that second one on Friday night against Treaty and Ballet Buffet? The way that Finn Harps are looking to play you know, Dave talks constantly about playing front foot football and getting away from the style of football a club had in the past but I think you know, and I was fortunate not to play the player that I played in an awful lot of good football teams but before you go and play and you want to play a track to football there's battles to be won all over the percussion and the first division is for example of a league where before you even think about playing there's a battle to be won you've got to go and fight and compete and when you get on top of your opponent then you can then go and play football that you want to play but with a young and experienced team it's difficult at times to get that point across and that's where you need your like to keep calm hopefully going to be back from injury this weekend and Ryan Rainey Noah Baba the more experienced players of the team to galvanise the team and get them together and say right we're going to before we play we're going to have to fight and scrap and get on top of the game before we start playing our football and I think maybe at times if we've been critical of Finn Harps maybe that could be and that they haven't maybe shown the league or the opponents the respect that they deserve maybe by not going out and won in the battles first consistency is obviously a word that's used a lot in sport and as you said Harps have only been beaten three occasions there's a lot of draws in there so there is a bit of consistency but turning that consistency and formra is a big step aren't they it is yeah and it's like we touched on earlier about our own situation at Duncannon scoring like the ability to score goals I mean if you're if you're looking at it from a thin harps point of view so they've had four draws and if you score two more goals and then games like that's another four points for you you know it moves you up into fifth place in the league so like it's all small margins at this level of football I think and you know if you want to go and get a goal score a renowned goal score you have to pay top dollar and that's the difference in a lot of teams you look at the teams that have like Harps have drawn four games compared to Waterford's two games you know where there's you know perhaps another two victories like it's a big big difference but again we're talking different budgets and different styles so it's going to be I think it's still going to be a difficult season for them and I suppose and they'll say to that is Waterford have a goal difference of plus 11 and Harps are our minus eight in relation to the leaders Galway nine points clear at the top you're surprised by the margin of their advantage at this stage of the season with eight games played aren't they are we but surprised maybe that it's so big but I'm certainly not surprised in the fact that Galway have won all eight games you look at the management team of Caulfield and Ollie Horgan who know the league inside out and you know two experienced very experienced campaigners and you know so but it's in or around the top three or four like they're going to beat each other but you know from a league point of view it doesn't look as if anybody's going to touch Galway and so at this stage it's really about playing for playoff places because I mean never a remarkable start to the season and I can't see anybody closing that gap on the ocean. Yeah what about the gap at the top of the Premier Division Shamrock Rovers at the start of the campaign not going so well right at the top of the top of the league but I think that's one of the things that will be leading the way and would be league contenders but it's bohemians that are in that spot it wasn't a good period there over the last week for Derry losing two matches in the space of four days both of the games at home and they've got them dark away now this coming Friday night a bit of a blip around the Brandy Well at the moment aren't they Yeah I think You know, they've lost that big game to Drada and they lost, obviously, 100 to Bows as well. Both games, 1-0, 1-0 defeat. And again, like, I watched Derry play Slago a couple of weeks ago and I thought they were really fortunate to get a draw that night. You know, and so the pressure will be mounting on Rory Higgins at this stage, but, you know, we're talking about Bows and Derry being six points behind Bows, but I don't think anybody can take their eyes off Shamrock Rovers, actually, because they're creeping up, like, the one or the last three games of it now. And, you know, they've only lost, I know they've started off the season with the five draws and the defeat to Derry today, but the one or the last three games now and that they're, I think, if it's Bows or Derry, if he finds above Shamrock Rovers coming in this season, I think he'll be more than happy because I would probably mean that you're a league champion. And we've seen Rovers go into Bows a couple of weeks ago and won quite convincingly, Ashin. So from a Derry point of view, you know, after such a positive start and then losing the two games of the Brandiwell, you know, they just have to regroup and refocus and go to Dundalk and, you know, Dundalk haven't really been pulling up many trees this season either. Like, they've flattered at a few of the times, but, you know, they're sitting third from bottom. So Derry, they go in there quite positive in the fact that they'll be looking to get three points. Derry can get themselves back in to this momentum swing again because they have a good enough squad for it, aren't they? They do, absolutely. I mean, Derry is one of the strongest squads in the league, but, you know, yourself, when you get into a wee rupture, you shouldn't be losing, but if you're not going to win, you shouldn't be losing. They certainly, in terms of the squad that Derry Higgins has built over the last couple of years, they've spent the money that's been available to them and they've signed good players. And, you know, we'll go back to coming back who probably is going to get a league medal for having played the first half of the season with Lauren. And, you know, Ben's come in there and I think Ben's been Derry's best attacking player in the games that I've seen, even though he's been playing with left-back. So I think maybe tactically, they should maybe look about getting Ben higher up the park because Ben will score goals as well. And then in games that, you know, that they fail to score at home, maybe Ben to hardly higher up the park could help them and assist with more goals going opportunities. OK, just moving to the Ulster Senior League. Finally, Antony, getting your thoughts on the battle for the title. It's very much advantage, Bonagie and I, 10 points clear at the top of the table. Cockhill have four games in hand. And this is a situation that you're very familiar with, Antony, because the time that Rovers went to the FEI Intermediate Cup final in 2016 used a lot of backlog games as well. And now Cockhill find themselves in this position. It's going to be a hectic time for Cockhill, but it's making the run on the Ulster Senior League very interesting, is it? It's brilliant for a league that has been much maligned over the last number of years for the fact that we've only got letter camey, Bonagie and Cockhill, and it's been supported by the two senior clubs. I know Manahan ran on last season for a while, but it's been very difficult for the public to get excited about the league, but I suppose the fact that Bonagie aren't such a good position and they're chasing the first ever Ulster Senior League title and they've won game to play in that game against Cockhill and if they avoid defeat to Cockhill, they're going to be crowned league champions, which will be a brilliant achievement for Jason Gibson and the football club. Cockhill, given the run they've had in Intermediate, they're playing catch-up and it's similar to what we found with letter camey back in 2016, with so many games on top of each other coming at the end of the season, and then when we got to the playoff game for the league, we were just beat, we'd run a race at that stage and it was just a game too many for us, but Cockhill, probably, I suppose from the point of view, they're probably a bit younger than what we were back in 2016. There have been more lags about the team, so they'll be looking through, to go and win the four remaining games and one attempt league title in a row, which will be some achievement for Gavin Collin. Can you call it, can you? I can't really, because Bonnevii, I think so good this year, and Bonnevii, Bonnevii are a wee bit similar to what we were in 2016, where we had a lot of experience in the team, you know, we had, like, Zafalka and Christy Conaghan and Ruri Kelly and that, and then Bonnevii of Tony McNally and Gareth Harkin, like, they have all experienced this time. Bonnevii, like, listen, with that experience, they'll have enough, you know, that they'll certainly have enough to get through and play in a game and shoot enough to not get beat by Cockhill, but you know, when they're playing against a team that's won nine league titles in a row and they're in an intermediate cup final, you can never plan for trying to play out a draw, because at any stage, when we've seen it through the season, Cockhill has got a couple of late goals that have kept him on the league title race, so never, ever rule out or back against Cockhill. That's when we cover a lot of ground this evening, and there's always thanks for joining us on the programme and we'll talk to you about more football real soon. Thanks for watching, thank you. There you go, Anthony Gorman on the Austria Senior League and League of Ireland and Irish League Matters. Just a note on some local soccer fixtures, by the way, Cockhill are in action tomorrow night Friday as they take on Letterkinny in the first of those games in a hand on a Bonnevii. In the Donegal Junior League, there's a number of area finals in the Brown-McCormick Cup on Sunday, Glenny United playing Kilmachran and Celtic and Rathmull and Celtic up against Letterkinny Rovers. The final of the Ulster Junior Shield is taking place as well, with Strand Rovers of the Donegal League playing Red Castle FC from the Anishone League. In the Premier Division of the League, three of the bottom four are in action. Kildrum Tigers playing Castle for Celtic and St Catharines against Bonnevii United as the relegation battle continues. And it's the final run of games in Division II this weekend. Among the five fixtures, Guidore United are up against Ballet Buffet United. The winner of that tie will go in to the promotion relegation playoff. Lagan Harps, of course, already crowned champions and Cranford are also promoted to Division I. While in Anishone, among the games been played this weekend, Cup semi-finals, the Donegal Signs Challenge Cup last four. It's L.A. Celtic up against Green Castle. And then the Father O'Gara Cup semi-finals. Both games are taking place this weekend. Cairn Reserves against Cockill Reserves and Rochini FC are playing Done Reunited. OK, we're going for another break. We'll have more on the score after these. With everyone looking to shrink their bill these days, Dumbstores gives you more ways to save with Doublesavers. First, you'll save in the aisles when you fill your trolley with fantastic low prices across thousands of great products. Then you'll save again at the till with our 10-0-50 grocery vouchers. Shrink your bill today and get a trolley worth 54.66 for just 44.66. Doublesavers from Dumbstores. Always better value. Terms and conditions apply. Voucher can be used in a grocery shop with 50 or more. I've just had the Eclipse Cinema's experience. Wow, they truly have taken a night at the movies to a whole new level. Amazing recliner chairs, director's lounge VIP rooms, pizza and hot food served to your seat. Have a glass of wine and enjoy the film on the big screen. Try it for yourself at Eclipse Cinema's at Bundorn and Lefford Strabang where the stars shine brighter. By the way, the pizzas are amazing. You can book your seat anytime at EclipseCinemas.ie. Take It to the Limit is a celebration of the Eagles by Johnny Brady, Simon Casey, Nigel Connell and the Sheeran family. You can hear Take It to the Limit at the Millennium Forum Dairy on Saturday, April 15. Tickets from £28.50. Now on sale from the Theatre Box Office or online from www.TakeItToTheLimit.ie Raymond Sweeney here from Ben Sweeney, Iranics to let you know about the Blomberg Integrated Dishwasher which can save you time and money. When you're pressed for time, you can choose a quick 30 minute or 58 minute wash cycle or an intelligent auto program for perfect wash results every time. The German engineered inverter motor means it operates at low noise level so it's whisper quiet. And there's a seven-year person Call in and see for yourself at Ben Sweeney, Iranics or draw a letter, Kenny or in the shopping centre, Dunlop. And you're welcome back to the programme. Around 11.5 minutes to go to the top of the hour at 8 o'clock as we turn our attention to Rugby and Sturban are facing into a big final this weekend as they fight for a first piece of silverware in around 15 years. They travel to Nuri in this season's Guard of the Year. They're going to be on the run and they're going to be on the run and they're going to be on the run and they're going to be on the run and they're going to be on the run and they're going to be on the run and they're going to be on the run in this season's Gordon West Plate Final to make the decider the needed extra time to see off Lisburn last week. Sturban captain as Jimmy Hamilton I've been speaking to him today and he says there's a lot of excitement around the club and within the group of players this week. Oh it is, it is indeed. We're definitely excited for playing it and we're just getting prepared for it now. Tonight will be the last night of training so hopefully we're ready for Saturday. you've had a big one in the semi-final over Lisburne Jimmy. Big one that was that was a big one now it went to extra time and I've been playing rugby for 20 years or more and that was the first time ever I had a game went to extra time but an extra time we showed a we showed a better resilience and a better quality and and we come out the right end we won by 10 points in the finish up so it was good to get over the line. Yeah good get over the line a great result for for Sturban. Jimmy you might you might forgive me maybe if I give away your age you know you're you're what about 41 42 are you so you've been you've been playing rugby for a long time. Fair to say you're probably the most experienced player in the Sturban setup are you? I would say I'm the the most experienced player in the squad by a wee bit there's a there's another couple maybe not that far behind me but I suppose I have four or five years on them at the moment anyhow. Yeah and listen you've a a l experience so you have you played with city of Derry you were there with Paul O'Kane in recent years when he was in charge at at Derry so so even with that you bring a lot of experience on to the pitch and and dealing with the squad. Okay do you I try I've come back to Sturban this year that's okay I was with Sturban for a number of years and then I was down there for three or four years and I'm back with them now so okay just come back to help the boys and give them a couple years now and just pass my experience on to the rest of them and hopefully it rubs off on them. Yeah what about the rest of the squad is it a mix of older boys and younger is it very much sort of young gun Sturban men that are coming through here looking to push the club on? Yeah there there is a mix but there is a our use system is very good in Sturban at the moment and over the next couple of years you'll see a good local embossing under the first team but at the moment we've got sort of a few older heads and then a few younger heads and that's a good mix so hopefully that'll see us right. This final at the weekend Jimmy is it fair to say this is probably one of the biggest games that Sturban have played maybe since they were involved in the in the Gordon West Cup finals about what 14 or 15 years ago? That that would be right I yeah yeah that's a few years since we were in the the the Gordon West Cup final now this is the plate and I know maybe maybe it's not as big as the Gordon West Cup final but it's so silverware and we want to bring the trophy back to Sturban. Yeah is that what you just want to go after this season as the Gordon West Cup final the next step for you and obviously promotion into Doster Championship too is that where where you want to go with progression in the next couple of years at Sturban? Oh definitely I am I think this this this year was a bit of a rebuild and process and we finished tough in the league and maybe we probably could have finished a bit higher only in the middle of the season there was a long break and I think some boys just maybe focus their things to our places and I was just we just didn't have the same finish to the season maybe we had hoped for but over the next couple of years we hoped to get to more of these finals and hopefully push on and get promotion. Yeah Nuri's the opposition you obviously played Nuri a couple of times already this season have you Jimmy? We've played Nuri a couple of times and it's it's always a hard game so it has never ever went up there without it's been a been a hard game they're they're a good side maybe this season their their league position hasn't showed that but they're always very hard to beat them very hard to beat at home. So then it's going to take a big performance a big effort then if you're going to win this trophy on Saturday? Oh it's definitely it's definitely going to going to take a big effort like we we've beat Nuri a couple of times this season already but I think the form gauge sort of goes out the window whenever it's a final and especially where they haven't been at home they're always a hard side to beat at home. Well listen Jimmy we'll wish you and the rest of the Sturban boys all the best of luck in that plate final this weekend. That's that's great thank you very much Hashi. That is Jimmy Hamilton captain off the Sturban side we wish them all the best of luck in that decider. Another important game for Oma on Saturday as well in the All-Ireland League Division 2C they host Brough as they continue their battle at the bottom off the division while in provincial northwest and they show a ticking on René. Okay back to Gilly Games the Duneagol senior hurlers start their championship on Sunday at the O'Donnell Park in Letter of Kenny they face Firmana in the opening tie in the Nicky Rackard Cup with four other games against Armagh, Ross Common, Louth and Wicklow to come. The top two in the group will then make the final at Croke Park. Having Ron Meath close in the league final manager Mickey McCann's preparations have been good ahead of the championship. It's been very good actually um we've got all the boys coming back from injury at no doubt at one time and we've a full ball of health come this weekend so um we've been struggling with injury stuff to the league and but the good thing about it we've got a chance to look at a lot of players and see if we can do a job for us. We have injuries and luck that we've approved so and we've had a very satisfactory league you know getting the final and I suppose it was there for us you know on the day uh made for hot favors but we left that game a wee bit disappointed but when we sat down and looked back at the league we're very happy and we're a good place going to challenge it but carry that kind of form that we have been in the league last couple of games you know with the hard debate. Because you did come close against against me that money was giving you hope on that occasion um Mickey but there's it was huge learning out of that game for the group wasn't there? It was actually and you know I always like us as underdogs I'd say even over the last three or four years we we've taken a few scalps you know and it wasn't when nobody gives a chance so um same that day we set our ups also a hard debate that we worked hard and look we just we just to say we left too many scores out there that we didn't take and uh there was nothing on it but look I showed our boys that we can compete at that level but uh I suppose in the championship now I assume the tide just turned will probably be the favourites against Romano and Romano and you know you have to carry that in the last couple of years we we didn't um so we're going to have to set ourselves up that teams are there to take our scalp and get prepared for it and uh hopefully we can get off to a good start on Sunday and get it dealing against Romano a team that that we struggled against for long periods last year only seen it out in the last 10 minutes so we've taken off for ganondashing uh we can't go up to the levels we did against Wachio three weeks ago or or it'd be no good against Romano and so um I think we learned a lot during that league you know. At the end of the day Mick I suppose when you look at it you are the the highest ranked team from the league going into the nicky record championship there's many teams in it six all together use use of the use of the top guys going into it so um how are you going to handle that pressure Mickie or is there any way I'm putting that to the back of the players mind I want to just complacency it's so dangerous uh Oisin and sport we all know that and uh it's a thing we'll be looking at that that we keep the the hands on the ground and just keep the work bed up and and make whatever's common we what's work with and hopefully the hardland will pick over then um but uh as I say we might be favours but I suppose what do our others and maybe just the 20 points Oisin this year so uh Roscommon's up day three are up to 2b this year they won the league blow so um I think it's as top as nicky record has been you know for manners are improving and uh you can take nothing for granted against any or a way there am I would just trick you on Oisin so I think it's as top as nicky record we've been in for a long time you know with the likes of Wichita and Roscommon and ourselves now on it so um we'll just have to carry the favourite tags against Romano I want to meet Wichita and all I think it's going to be a 50-50 game you know what I mean so um you'd like to you'd like to get scores up and be on beat and come that Wickel game the last last day out you know yeah well come the break you'll have three games played mickey for mana our man roscommon and you'll have a better understanding of where you at as you head to the final stretch but I suppose on the plus those last two games and that one in particular against Wickel they're both home matches louth and Wickel which you would think would benefit Donegal yes you want to ask you know all they're talking about is trying to keep everything in her own hands Oisin you don't want them getting under the last day or two and score difference and head to head and stuff so important we get we get everything right and every score matters and every result that but we keep it all in our own hands and that's all we're concentrating on you know is just looking at ourselves and put ourselves in good position come three weeks time it will hopefully six points in the table you know and another victory then we'll make it the end of the final action so um if you're under the last day against Wickel you'll need a result that's going to be a really tough task so we're under no illusions we need to just keep our own house in order and export three games now starting off yeah just back on the team front you didn't mention it that the start of the piece mickey that you have everybody back which is a bonus timing for this having everybody available going into championship just days out as couldn't have been any better but there's another set of us gives you gives you a bit of a headache yes a headache I should you know um the boys are stepped into them positions against against tough opposition have done very well then on that league so um we definitely a lot of headaches uh I suppose some of the boys coming back hadn't much game time yet rushing and stuck so we'll have to judge everybody different than I must have seen in the last month and who's up to speed that this aren't getting the fitness uh or the go ahead that your foot but you have to be up to a certain level of speed and all and we'll just have to take a look at everybody individually and see see which boys is up for a starting place maybe 70 minutes and who's who's going to maybe come on and add this in the last 25 30 minutes so definitely a headache I've seen but I suppose a good place to be um with the Stogan all year long injury it's nice to get them all carried up that's mickey mccann the donnie gall hurling manager of course uh following or looking forward rather to that nicky rackyards opener against for mana and that is on this coming sunday afternoon the odonal park in letter kinney's the venue it starts at two o'clock also in the christie ring there's a big darby matches to roll and play dairy and that game is at haley park in oma and that is it from the score program for tonight of course you missed any of the show it will be available online at highlandradio.com have a very good evening be prepared for training and match day with kit and other essentials from all the top names at michael murphy sports and leisure sponsors of sport on highland see michael murphy sports dot ie live on air online and on the highland radio app this is highland radio news a partner during an address to the iraq this president biden told a joint sitting of the dawland shanad anything is possible with arland and america working together our political correspondent shawnda foe reports well mom you said it would happen joe biden remembering his mother as he delivered a speech in doll air and before addressing his black and tan snip from last night in the oval office