All eyes on Johnstown as deadly rivals line up

ONE of Roscommon Gaelic football's most intense rivalries rears its head this coming weekend, as near neighbours Clann na nGael and St Brigid's get set to clash in the quarter-finals of this year's senior football championship (Sunday, Johnstown, 6pm). With an impressive 28 Fahy Cups between them (Clann na nGael 19 and St Brigid's 9), most of the focus in this weekend's quarter-final schedule will be on the close rivals on Sunday evening. As the only South Roscommon representation remaining in the competition, interest in Sunday's game will be at a huge level in this part of the county, and most observers are finding it difficult to predict which way it could go. Both sides had mixed fortunes in the group stage, with Clann beating St Aidan's but losing their second (and final) group game by a point to Kilmore. St Brigid's had an awkward start to their Group A campaign, losing by two points to the winners from the past two years, Castlerea St Kevin's, before recovering well to seal second place in the three-team group by beating Padraig Pearses. It's a tough game to call - and St Brigid's manager Noel O'Brien knows his side are in for a very tough encounter against Dessie Dolan's Clann na nGael. "It's going to be a very big game for both clubs and there's been a lot of rivalry between the clubs in the past," said O'Brien. "I think it will be a tight game and might be settled by a point or two. I saw Clann against Kilmore recently. They lost by a point but I felt they were the better team. They've lots of energy in their team and work really hard for each other. I think Clann are an up and coming team and we'll have our work cut out to beat them on Sunday," he added. St Brigid's look set to have a full panel to choose from (apart from long-term injury victim Mark O'Carroll), while Clann look set to pick from pretty much the same crop of players that turned out two weeks ago against Kilmore. Clann have waited a long time for a Fahy Cup, having not lifted the county crown since 1996, but their undoubted tradition and pride will surely see them go neck and neck with St Brigid's, who have somewhat overshadowed Clann in recent years, particularly when winning a trio of county titles between 2005 and 2007. Clann will be looking to the likes of county stars Johnny Dunning and Donie Shine for scores, while David Flynn and Matt Scally can also be key contributors in attack. Also, the likes of Denis Gavin, Niall McManus, Cathal Duignan and Brian Goode have major parts to play in defence, as Clann look to stifle the threat posed by Brigid's players such as Frankie Dolan and Senan Kilbride, both of whom notched up five points in St Brigid's most recent outing. St Brigid's also have the likes of John Tiernan, Cathal McHugh, Karol Mannion, and Roscommon captain for the year, Peter Domican, among their ranks, and it will take a monumental effort from Clann to overcome players of such ilk and experience. Elsewhere in the senior championship quarter-finals this weekend, defending champions Castlerea St Kevin's play Kilmore, St Faithleach's face Roscommon Gaels, and Elphin take on St Croan's. QUARTER-FINAL LINE-UP SATURDAY: Castlerea St Kevin's v Kilmore - Elphin, 6.45pm. SUNDAY: Clann na nGael v St Brigid's - Johnstown, 6pm. St Faithleach's v Roscommon Gaels - Tarmonbarry, 1.15pm. Elphin v St Croan's - Castlerea, 6pm.