Derby Defence For Champions

Warwickshire Senior Football Champions Roger Casements are drawn to meet their Coventry rivals Four Masters in the first defence of their 2005 title.
Casements completed "two in a row" last September when they came out on top in an exciting Senior Final against John Mitchels that had plenty of thrills and spills, with both sides looking set for victory at different times in the match.
Since promotion to Senior ranks, Four Masters have established themselves in the grade and have taken a number of notable scalps in league matches. In 2004 they won the Fr Taaffe Cup and rarely concede easily.
The date of the game is yet to be set, with June most likely and this derby pairing should attract a large crowd to Holbrooks in Coventry, when it is played.
Runners-up to Roger Casements in 2005, John Mitchels are drawn against Sean McDermotts, surprise first round casualties last year. As already mentioned, Mitchels reached last years final with victories over Four Masters and Erin Go Bragh before running Casements very closely. McDermotts fell to Erin Go Bragh in last years first round, in a game they felt to have left behind them.
Newly promoted Naomh Padraig (Leicester) were first name out of the hat when the draw was made and their reward is a tie against St Finbarrs, the other Coventry team. One of the longest established clubs in Warwickshire, St Finbarrs improved throughout 2005, rebuilding their team In last years championship they defeated St Mary`s (Wolverhampton) in the first round before conceding to Roger Casements in the semi final.
Naomh Padraig was established around 5 years ago when the two Leicester clubs amalgamated first as St Colmcilles/Young Irelands, then shortening their name to Naomh Padraig. This will be their first appearance in the Senior Championship as Naomh Padraig and they owe their place in the senior grade via their table topping exploits in the 2005 Warwickshire Intermediate Football League.
The other tie sees St Barnabas (Nottingham) hosting Erin Go Bragh at Nottingham. In the late 1980`s and early 1990`s these clubs were major rivals, winning a number of titles between them and finals in this era tended to feature one or the other. Both clubs will be seeking to renew that competitive edge some 15 years later.
In last years championship St Barnabas lost to Casements by 3 points in the first round, while Erin Go Bragh failed to capitalise on their first round victory over Sean McDermotts, when losing to John Mitchels in a semi final clash.
Senior Championship Draw:
Winners of Naomh Padraig and St Finbarrs will play winners of Roger Casements and Four Masters.
Winners of St Barnabas and Erin Go Bragh will play winners of John Mitchels and Sean McDermotts.    
Fr Forde Cup
The draw for the 2006 Fr Forde Cup was also made. Holders Sean McDermotts will make their first defence against Four Masters, with the winners of that tie to face the winners of Erin Go Bragh and Roger Casements.
Last years losing finalists St Barnabas will be involved in an East Midlands derby when they renew rivalry with Leicester in the form of Naomh Padraig. The winners of this tie will face the winners of St Finbarrs and John Mitchels in the other semi final.

St Brendans, the 2005 Intermediate Champions, will face the winners of the only preliminary tie between John Mitchels and Sons Of Erin, in the first defence of their crown.
Despite winning the Intermediate Championship, St Brendans did not regain their senior status as they did not win the league, so remaining in this grade.
St Mary`s, who applied for re-grading after the loss of several key players in 2005, face a long trip to Corby to meet O`Rahilly`s.
In the other ties Erin Go Bragh will renew rivalry with Sean McDermotts at this grade while The Gaels from Rugby will travel to meet near neighbours Roger Casements.

Full Draw:
Winners of John Mitchels/ Sons of Erin v St Brendans
O`Rahilly`s v St Mary`s
Erin Go Bragh v Sean McDermotts
Roger Casements v The Gaels