GAA: Newbridge are next up for Eoghan Rua

The south Derry men have had a torrid start to their season losing all four games to date. They did well against Glenullin before losing by just a couple of points, 2-9 to 1-10, but they have since lost heavily in their other three games. Kilrea beat them by nine points 1-18 to 1-9 while Lavey had a massive 4-18 to 0-5 victory and just last Sunday Slaughtneil had sixteen points to spare in a 1-18 to 0-5 win.

Newbridge have been decimated by injuries to a number of key players. Centre back Sean Corr, former county players Ryan McElhone and Eamon Burke are all out with long term injuries. Also unlikely to feature against Eoghan Rua on Sunday are full forward Paddy McKiernan, goalkeeper Stephen Bateson and defenders Kevin McCann and Sean Paul McCann all currently on the treatment table.

In contrast, despite their own injury worries and county commitments, after losing their opening game to Ballinderry by just a point Eoghan Rua have won their last three games in a row beating Glen and Magherafelt while pipping Loup with a late goal at Pairc Eoghain Rua.

The Coleraine men have their own walking wounded, defender Barry McTaggart with a hamstring problem and forward Richard Carey carrying a calf injury from the opening game against Ballinderry. Meanwhile both Ciaran and Declan Mullan suffered injuries on county duty with Derry, Ciaran in training while Declan pulled up 50 minutes into the recent Galway game. All four players are unlikely to feature against Newbridge this weekend.

It's a couple of years since these sides locked horns at Intermediate level but when they did there was never much between them. Despite their contrasting fortunes in the opening stages of the league campaign the Eoghan Rua men would do well to be wary of the Newbridge challenge based on the history of close games between them in the past.

RESERVES

The reserve game at Pairc Eoghain Rua has 2.00pm start while the senior's throw-in is at 3.30pm.

NO LOTTO WINNER

Eoghan Rua lotto: Sunday 18 April no jackpot winner. Numbers - 1; 11; 22; 24. 25 winner - S. McCrudden (Coleraine). Sunday 25TH April jackpot - 3800.