Ulster Minor Football Club Championship 2011 (at Saint Pauls)

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The draw for this year's Championship will take place on Tuesday 25th October at 7-00pm - ish.

Edit: Changed to Wednesday 26th October.

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Haven't done one of these in a while.

Previous Winners:
1982 St Pauls Antrim
1983 Saul Down
1984 Na Cealla Beaga Donegal
1985 Na Cealla Beaga Donegal
1986 St Pauls Antrim
1987 Killeavy Armagh
1988 Enniskillen Gaels Fermanagh
1989 Dungannon Tyrone
1990 Dungiven Derry
1991 Bellaghy Derry
1992 Béal Átha Seannaidh Donegal
1993 Loup Derry
1994 Bellaghy Derry
1995 Loup Derry
1996 Ballinderry Derry
1997 Ballinderry Derry
1998 Slaughtneil Derry
1999 Cavan Gaels Cavan
2000 Pearse Óg Armagh
2001 Ballinderry Derry
2002 Clontibret Monaghan
2003 Armagh Harps Armagh
2004 Rostrevor Down
2005 Errigal Ciaran Tyrone
2006 Coalisland Tyrone
2007 Kilrea Derry
2008 Ballinderry Derry
2009 Omagh Tyrone
2010 Lámh Dhearg Antrim

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Minor Football Championship Final:
O'Raghallaigh Gaels Deliver Title


O'Raghallaigh Gaels 0-13 Cavan Gaels 1-04

O'Raghallaigh Gaels dethroned champions Cavan Gaels to capture the Division One Minor Football Championship title at Breffni Park.

Played in dreadful conditions, the game produced a drab 1st Half in which the winners led by a mere point before racing five points clear after the first 10 minutes of the Second Half.

Vincent Coyle registered a well-finished goal for Cavan Gaels to make a game of it in the last quarter, but the Kingscourt/Shercock amalgamation dug deep in the closing stages to see out victory.

Padraic Sheridan had Cavan Gaels off the mark after three minutes with a fine point, before Cian McArdle cancelled out the effort with a close range free and Aaron Browne had O'Raghallaigh Gaels into their first lead on nine minutes when he spilt the uprights from his centre-forward position.

Oisin Sheridan grabbed the next score for the Cavan town side, but they wouldn't score again for the remainder of the half as they let too many chances go by the wayside.

The Blues should have had a goal in the 23rd minute when Cian Donohoe sent Vincent Coyle through with only the goalkeeper to beat, but the centre-forward hit the umpire instead of the net. It was a let off for O'Raghallaigh Gaels and they would regain the lead a minute before the break through McArdle's second accurate free.

Another goal opportunity went a begging for Cavan Gaels on the eve of half-time, when Andrew Graham's soft shot was heroically cleared off the line by Padraic Faulkner, which left the score-line reading 0-3 to 0-2 in O'Raghallaigh Gaels' favour at the halfway stage.

The Kingscourt/Shercock combination resumed matters well by notching scores through Owen Duffy and Ryan Carey, before a Coyle free helped to stem the tide for Martin Dunne's charges.

O'Raghallaigh Gaels could have found the net afterwards when Killian Clarke's shot was tipped over by Ritchie Murphy in the Cavan Gaels goal, but they would still manage to open up a five-point gap when efforts from McArdle (free) and Browne flew over.

After shipping a knock which saw him having to be withdraw at Half Time, Cavan Gaels captain Paul Graham re-took to the field and within minutes of coming back on the Cavan Minor captain landed a rousing point to trim his side's deficit.

The score helped to lift the trailers' spirits and they hunted for another score when Graham carried possession from midfield and his cunning pass found Coyle's unmarked run, and when the number 11 accepted the pass he made no mistake in burying in a low finish to make it a one point game.

The next score was crucial and as things unravelled it was O'Raghallaigh Gaels that would go on to grab four without reply, as McArdle and super substitute Ryan Clerkin, who raised three white flags, demonstrated their scoring prowess with the pressure on to secure the title.

O'Raghallaigh Gaels: Shay Rooney; Rory Sheridan, Eoin Lynch, Owen Duffy (0-1); Padraig Faulkner, Brian Sankey, Colin Clerkin; Joe Dillon, James Farrelly; David Harpur, Aaron Browne (0-2), Niall Clerkin; Ryan Carey (0-1), Killian Clarke (0-1), Cian McArdle (0-5, 4f). Subs: Jack Sheehan for D Harpur (43 mins), Ryan Clerkin (0-3) for J Farrelly (47 mins), Paul Sloane for R Sheridan (60 mins).

Cavan Gaels: Ritchie Murphy; Daniel Mulligan, Cathal Cronin, Cian Mulligan; Barry Fortune, Cian McKiernan, Gary Farrelly; Paul Graham (0-1), Kevin Brady; Padraic Sexton (0-1), Vincent Coyle (1-1, 1f), Oisin Sheridan (0-1); Cian Donohoe, Andrew Graham, Leon Smith. Subs: Stephen Murray for P Graham (HT, inj), Graham for Smith (40 mins), Jason McConnell for O Sheridan (55 mins).

Ref: MG Brady (Mullahoran)

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Final flourish clinches minor title for Erne Gaels

Published 21 Jul 2011

Erne Gaels 3-10  Enniskillen Gaels 1-10

Erne Gaels produced a storming final 15 minutes as they upset favourites Enniskillen Gaels to clinch the  Minor 'A' Championship title at Brewster Park on Tuesday night.

Enniskillen appeared to be on their way to victory as a Sean Swift goal in the 49th minute edged them four points clear but the Belleek outfit replied with a goal of their own straight away through Donal Keown and from this they never looked back. A further unanswered 1-04 over the remainder of the contest put Erne Gaels out of sight as they deservedly picked up the victory.

The sides had shared the opening four points of the game with Brian McAleer and Gavin McGinn knocking over for Enniskillen before Ryan Lyons and Thomas McCaffrey responded for Erne Gaels.

Lyons was a hugely influential figure for the Belleek side over the duration of the contest at midfield as Enniskillen struggled to get a handle on him but as the first half wore on it was Enniskillen who were beginning to dominate.

McAleer lofted over a second long range point and this was followed by points from Sean Michael Breen and Michael Gordon McBride before Stephen Gormley clawed a point back for Erne Gaels to make it 0-05 to 0-03.

The Enniskillen advantage rose to four points as Sean Swift sent over two points, including a cracking effort from the right, while Breen had a good goal chance that drew a fine save from Paul Ward in the Belleek goals.

On the stroke of half time though Erne Gaels were given a lifeline when they were awarded a penalty, and although Gary Lynch saved McCaffrey's effort, the full forward reacted quicker than anybody else to the rebound and he made no mistake at the second attempt as he slotted to the back of the net to leave one between them at the break.

This score lifted Erne Gaels and they went on to record the opening three points of the second half to move into a 1-06 to 0-07 lead with points coming from Lyons, McCaffrey and Mark Burns.

Enniskillen were forced to call on Niall Shannon who had been carrying a shoulder injury and Shannon did begin to get his hands on ball as Enniskillen finally got moving in the second half.

McAleer drilled over a fine point before Andrew Sheridan converted a close range free to level proceedings with 43 minutes on the clock.

And matters improved further for the favourites as McAleer rifled over another point before Swift burst through for a goal. Sheridan picked out the corner forward with a through ball and Swift raced past his marker, cutting in from the left, before blasting his shot to the back of the net to make it 1-10 to 1-06.

However, Erne Gaels responded immediately to this set back as they carved open the Enniskillen rearguard. McCaffrey's long ball dropped perfectly into the arms of Donal Keown and he slipped it past Lynch to make it a one point game once more.

By now Erne Gaels were in the ascendancy Lyons launched over a superb point from distance to draw the sides level.

Jack McCann then nudged the Belleek team in front and with four minutes to go Caolan Keown made sure that the title would be going back to Belleek when he drove forward before placing his effort into the back of the net.

With the game in injury time Erne Gaels two main protagonists, McCaffrey and Lyons wrapped things up with further points as they finished up 3-10 to 1-10 victors.

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16-09-11
Antrim Minor Football Championship Final:
Lámh Dhearg v St Johns 
8-15pm   Casement Park
Gregory Walsh

03-09-10 (Friday)
Antrim Minor Football Championship Final
Lámh Dhearg v St Johns
20:30   Casement Park
Referee: Eamon Trainor

No floodlights.
No match.
Free in for re-fixture..

They'd be careful not to let that happen again.

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Floodlights working fine. Rain has stopped.

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Late start.

Lamh Dhearg 0-02  St Johns 2-01

16 minutes.

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Lamh Dhearg 0-05  St Johns 3-01

Half Time

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Lamh Dhearg 0-05  St Johns 3-04

15 minutes - 2nd Half

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Lamh Dhearg 0-05  St Johns 3-07

All over.

[TacadoirArdMhacha]

Armagh Semi-finals this week;

St Patrick's Cullyhanna v Armagh Harps
Killeavy v Silverbridge

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Naomh Eoin 3-07 Lámh Dhearg 0-05


St Johns minor footballers managed to complete a historic double on Friday night and collected the Minor Football Championship to join the Hurling cup won last week.

After an excellent early score from Ryan Murray of Lámh Dhearg the game was poised at 2 points to 1 for the Hannahstown men.  It was then that Loughlin McCurdy sparked into life and within the space of five minutes the Johnnies led 2-01 to 0-02.  The Lámha fought back with 2 points only for Conor Johnston to finish a goalmouth scramble and at the end of the half St Johns went in 3-01 to 0-05 in front.

The second half started with plenty of early pressure from Lámh Dhearg who were camped in the St Johns half for the first five minutes but could not manage to add to their tally.  St Johns eventually got back into the game and with scores from Pádraig Nugent, Luke Peden and a left foot effort from Conor Johnston seen the Whiterock men finish out victorious on a 3-07 to 0-05 scoreline.

Naomh Eoin: Eoghain Rua Lambert, Conal Morgan, Jack Hannigan, Michael Bradley, Patrick McBride, Ciaran Johnston, Micheal Dudley, Ronan McCafferty, Owen Douglas, Loughlin McCurdy, Padraig Nugent, Luke Peden, Conor Johnston, Domhnall Carson, Ferghal Morgan. 

Subs: Domhnall Quinn for Domhnall Carson

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02-10-11
Derry Minor Football Championship Final
Glen Watty Grahams v Magherafelt O'Donovan Rossa
4-45pm   Slaughtneil
Referee : Cyril Hargan

          v           

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The draw for this years tournament will now take place on Weds 26 Oct at 7pm in Belfast City Hall

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Derry Minor Football Championship Final
Glen Watty Grahams 1-12  Magherafelt O'Donovan Rossa 0-06

This eagerly awaited County Minor Championship Final was held on Sunday past in Slaughtneil, with Magherafelt having high hopes of bursting our lads bubble for the year.  However, with our management keeping our lads grounded this last six weeks their minds were fully focused on nothing other than taking home the trophy.

Magherafelt started of the scoring with a free kick inside the first minute.  From the following kick-out Glen won the break in midfield but possession was lost and Magherafelt slotted over for their second point.  Glen dug in from that point on and by the seventh minute the teams were level with a pointed free from Emmet 'Mutt Mutt' Bradley and a neatly worked score from Ciaran McFaul.  This was to be the start of what can only be described as a 'class act' from our lads. 

With Glen dominating midfield Emmet won possession and after a neat one-two his effort just dropped short with the ball falling kindly to Danny Tallon who blasted over for Glen's third point.  Glen had chances of extending their lead but, like Magherafelt early on, they saw their efforts fall wide of the posts.

With a re-occurring injury preventing Michael Warnock from continuing in the game he was replaced by Stevie O'Hara on the quarter hour mark.  Almost immediately Stevie got into the action and after some excellent work he played in Danny Tallon who was dragged down and Connor Convery stepped up to register his first score of the day from the resulting free kick.

With the scoreline sitting at four points to two in favour of the Wattys, Emmet found himself within range for a shot, however his effort fell short but full forward Connor Convery was alert and following some tenacious work he managed to poke the ball past the two defenders and the Magherafelt goalkeeper for the first and only goal of the day!

A mistake in the Glen forward line granted possession to Magherafelt who broke clear; the referee adjudged that there was a pull on a Magherafelt jersey resulting in Magherafelt getting their third point from the resulting free kick. With Connor Carville playing out of his skin, and winning several breaking ball, one of which lead to a fantastic build up of play an almost found its way to the net from a low drive by Tomas Convery.

Shortly after Emmet linked up with his inside forwards and with some good hand passing Danny Tallon had the time and space for a shot on goal but he was denied by a wonderful save from the 'Rossa' keeper. Magherafelt pegged on three more points before the half ended, which incidentally proved to be their last scores of the game.  Just before the half time whistle Emmet fired over from fully thirty yards to leave Glen ahead at the break by two points.

Half Time Score: Glen 1-05 Magherafelt 0-06

With no changes made by either side the second half begun where the first left of, Emmet winning the 'throw in' and after a few great passes the ball found its way to Ciaran McFaul who fired over with the left foot (who ever knew he had one!) from a tight angle.  Five minutes into the second half Tomas Convery was replaced by Paul Gunning.

Glen scored two more unanswered points from Connor Convery and a brilliant score from Paul Gunning. Glen then had a scare ten minutes into the second half after losing possession a hopeful effort was played into the Glen square by Magherafelt which found its way into the net, however the player was deemed to be standing in the square therefore the goal did not stand. Glen killed of any hopes of a Magherafelt revival by notching up three more points, two from the on fire Ciaran McFaul and one from the boot of Danny Tallon.

As expected Magherafelt threw the kitchen sink at Glen heading into the last ten minutes of the game, but our lads kept strong and with some fine displays of defending they made numerous blocks and tackles especially from our wing backs Brendan 'Giggles' O'Kane and full back Ryan 'Ginger' McDonnell (an early night after the formal clearly the right decision) who on more than one occasion stopped Magherafelt in their tracks.

Heading into the last few minutes of the game and with the result inevitable the lads kept up the pressure and left 'big' Stevie to finish of the scoring and the final whistle confirmed Glen as Derry Minor Champions for 2011, and the first time in twenty four years! 

Final Score: Glen 1-12 Magherafelt 0-06

Team & Scorers:
Ciaran McCloy, Conor Gallagher, Ryan McDonnell, Cathal Mulholland, Brendan O'Kane, Conor Carville, Gavin Tallon, Ryan Dougan, Emmet Bradley (0-02), Tomas Convery, Michael Warnock, Ciaran McFaul (0-04), Oisin Hegarty, Conor Convery (1-02), Danny Tallon (0-02). 
Subs used: Stevie O'Hara (0-01) for Michael Warnock, Paul Gunning (0-01) for Tomas Convery.

Captain fantastic Emmet Bradley received the trophy to wild cheers from the large Glen contingent, and also managed to drop the lid.  With anyone of our players being in the position for the 'man of the match' honour it was awarded to Ciaran McFaul who was a menace from the word go, he made it look easy at times and made run after run not to mention his four points from play.
 
Understandably there were a few tears shed after the final whistle from some of our joyous supporters but none more amusing than those shed by the infamous Beaker.... who doesn't love a man who isn't afraid to show his emotions!  Roving reporter for the day Sean Peter Gribbon interviewed Captain Emmet after the game:  "Emmet how does it feel to be Glen's first county minor winning captain since 1987?"  Emmett responded "Unbelievable, very proud and I hope it's the first of many.  Big big thanks to our management this year, especially Enda!" 

Sean Peter then moved onto the man in charge: "Enda, anything you would like to add?"  Enda responded: "Great feeling to win our first minor title in a long time, listen there is no team in Derry that worked as hard as these lads this year and I just hope they kick on now!" 

Huge congratulations to all the players and managers who have put in a huge effort this year and fulfilled every target they have set this year so far.  Hopefully more success is further down the road soon in the Ulster championship!  Thanks to the huge number of supporters who attended the game and your support will be required again for the upcoming Ulster games.  A big thanks also to Sean Peter Gribbon who carried out my duties for the day and did an excellent job..any errors in the report or if anyone has been misquoted please contact him directly!