Morris ready for title battle against his pal

Gary Falls loses his balance for Aghyaran whilst Christopher Morris capitalises on his misfortune for Galbally. INTT3312-715DCA

The centre half back will be responsible for marshalling the Tyrone rearguard against a prolific Monaghan attack that just happens to include one of Morris’ closest friends.

“I go to school with Ryan McAnespie” said Christopher. “We get on well. We’d always be with each other in school and we hang about together, so it’ll be good to see him!”

Aughnacloy’s Ryan McAnespie may play with Emyvale just over the border, but during the school year he attends St Ciaran’s, Ballygawley.

Morris also attends the school but any friendship will be set aside as the centre half back squares up to McAnespie on the St Tiernach’s Park sod.

Morris acknowledged it’s an odd scenario but he’s prepared to get on with the job.

For the Galbally man to play for his county in sun-drenched St Tiernach’s Park in an Ulster final is the stuff of dreams. But it’s a dream that last year looked unlikely.

“I’ve always dreamed about playing in Clones in an Ulster Final but I never thought I would get this opportunity.

“I was out last year with a broken leg so I wasn’t expecting to get back but luckily I did and now to be in an Ulster final is brilliant.”

It mightn’t sound like the most serious injury, but it wasn’t an ordinary break.

“I broke my leg jumping into a sheugh... it’s a long story,” said Christopher laughing.

“I was out for seven or eight months, I broke it in four or five places. So it was bad. My first match back was a schools final with St Ciaran’s.”

The Galbally man got forward to score a point in the Ulster Minor league semi final against Monaghan and he’s hoping to get forward again on Sunday.

“I suppose in centre half back you get the best of both worlds, you’re able to get forward and to get back.”

Having been beaten by Monaghan already this season the young Red Hands will be looking to exact some form of revenge and to do that they’ll have to make sure they don’t ship 3-16 like they did in the spring encounter.

Morris realises that the defence will have to be on top.

“They’re a good team and have a lot of good players. Hopefully we will be able to pin a few down. We will have to get tight and put a bit of pressure on the likes of Conor McCarthy and Feargal McMahon.

“All we can do is put as much pressure on as we can and hopefully it will be enough” added Christopher,