Ulster U20 and Minor Championships 2024

[Captain Obvious]

At U15/U16 level in recent years the two things that stood out was Armagh's improvement with a winning habit developed and  Antrim shipping heavy beatings in matches.

[yellowcard]

That's far too wide a statement Yellowcard. Whatever happens at under age, the only team that's properly in the shop window is the senior team.

An alterior argument might be to put resources into a senior team that might just lift the profile and that had to start by getting out if Div 4. Now Div 3, that new target is Div 2, albeit that won't be this year.

While we don't expect to win a provincial minor cship or under 20, we still do need to be pulling three or four players per year from these squads to filter into senior level.

Imo it's at club under 8 level this needs to start. And there's a lot of clubs starting to get their act together now that it's safe to say we're not doing as much a decade ago.

I don't forsee much success in the next few years,but I'm not totally despondent about the future.

I'm in agreement that the senior team is the shop window to improve things in the short term. It probably shouldn't be an either/or argument in terms of allocating resources into senior/underage development but where funds are limited, choices do have to be made.

Under 20 is the last staging post for players who may be capable of playing senior inter county football and should be the main recruitment tool for the next batch of young players capable of making the step up to senior grade. No matter which way you look at it, a 33 point beating is not good for morale within a county. In fact longer term it is damaging to the self belief of that group of young players because those sorts of defeats are not quickly forgotten. It's one thing not to be winning championship matches but its an entirely different matter when you aren't remotely competitive.

[bannside]

It's definitely a wake up call if one was needed! For the record last years under 20s struggled too at times, but it took a very fancied Donegal team to penalties in Ballybofey in the championship. But yes, a very bad day at the office, no one can dispute that.

[Orior]

When are the next matches and what is the draw?

[GAABoardMod5]

Starts this weekend. Group format instead of knock out. Tier 2 competitions for more game for every team.

Round 1 – Sat 9th March

Section A

Antrim v Tyrone at  Dunsilly
Down v Derry at Páirc Esler

(Monaghan Bye)

Section B

Cavan v Donegal at Kingspan Breffni (March 13th for that game)

Fermanagh v Armagh at  St Josephs Park, Ederney

 

Round 2 – Wed 20th March

Section A

Tyrone v Down at Healy Park

Monaghan v Antrim at Castleblayney

(Derry Bye)

 

Round 3 – Wed 27th March

Section A

Down v Monaghan at Páirc Esler

Derry v Tyrone at Owenbeg

(Antrim Bye)

Section B

Armagh v Cavan at Athletic Grounds

Donegal v Fermanagh at  Ballybofey

 

Round 4 – Wed 3rd April

Section A

Antrim v Down at Dunsilly

Monaghan v Derry at Castleblayney

(Tyrone Bye)

 

Round 5 – Wed 10th April

Section A

Tyrone V Monaghan at Healy Park

Derry v Antrim at Owenbeg

(Down Bye)

Section B

Donegal v Armagh at  Ballybofey

Fermanagh v Cavan at Brewster Park

 

U20FC Quarter Finals – Wed 17th April

(First named team has home advantage)

Group A Runner-Up V Third in Group B

Group B Runner-Up V Third in Group A

 

U20FC Semi Finals – Wed 24th April

(First named team has home advantage)

(1) Winner Section A V QF Winner

(2) Winner Section B V QF Winner

 

U20FC Final –  Wed 1st / Fri 3rd May

Semi Final Winner 1 V Semi Final Winner 2

 

Tier 2 (Draw to take place between three teams after group stages)

Semi Final – Mon 22nd April

Team that did not qualify V One of QF Losers

 

Final – Mon 29th April

SF Winner V 3rd Team

 

Tier 1 & Tier 2

All-Ireland Semi Finals on 11/12 May

For those too lazy to scroll back...

[J70]

Donegal 2-15 Cavan 0-16

[Orior]

For those too lazy to scroll back...

Thank you, lol

[GAABoardMod5]

For those too lazy to scroll back...

Thank you, lol

All part of the service...

[omagh_gael]

Healy Park unable to host the u20s this evening, game moved to the Dub in Belfast. Surely something has to be done with the surface in the very near future?

[timmyot501]

Is Ulster GAA TV showing any of tonight's matches??

[Armagh18]

Monaghan 2-8 Antrim 1-6. Bit more respectable scoreline this week thankfully.

[Blowitupref]

Monaghan 2-8 Antrim 1-6. Bit more respectable scoreline this week thankfully.

A lot more respectable indeed.  Tyrone and Down played out a low scoring draw 1-8 to 0-11

[statto]

Healy Park unable to host the u20s this evening, game moved to the Dub in Belfast. Surely something has to be done with the surface in the very near future?

Really convenient for anyone from up round the Omagh direction looking to attend the game particularly on a school night.Healy park is really not fit for purpose the game Saturday night should arguably not have been played either way a credit to both sides put on a decent show.

[Goals_Will_Come]

https://www.irishnews.com/gaa/gaelic-football/hogan-cup-hero-daly-completes-tyrone-comeback-to-reel-in-defending-champions-down-BFXU5JL5SZFDZHNGSOKI52BE5E/

Hogan Cup hero Callum Daly completes Tyrone comeback to reel in defending champions Down
Red Hands come from six behind as Mournemen U20s remain winless after two games

EirGrid Ulster U20 Football Championship Section A: Tyrone 0-11 Down 1-8
DEFENDING champions Down are still without a win in the current Ulster U20 Championship campaign after Tyrone came from six points behind to earn a draw at the Dub last night.

Hogan Cup winning captain Callum Daly came off the bench to grab a stoppage-time leveller for the Red Hands as they finally found a way to break down a packed defence.

Down dropped 15 men into their own half, repeatedly thwarting their opponents throughout the first half, and picking off scores on the breakaway.

Dara Mussen and Jamie Doran registered the only points of a low-scoring opening quarter, as the Mournemen led by 0-2 to 0-1, before Oisin Gormley finally got Tyrone off the mark in the 17th minute.

Doran was on target with his second long-range free, and with Ronan Kelly and Tom McCarroll leading the Down charge with their strong running, they continued to raid from deep.

With composure in possession, they crafted another score through Senan Carr, and despite losing full-back David Ruddy to a black card, grabbed a goal with another swift breakaway, finished on 26 minutes by Donal Scullion, to lead by 1-4 to 0-2 at the break.

The Red Hands closed the gap through Ronan Cassidy and Conor Owens (2), but remained vulnerable on the break, with Luke Quinn racing clear for another Down score.

But their six-point lead had been trimmed back to two by the end of the third quarter, and Cormac Devlin made it a one-point game.

Doran kept the Mourne side in front, but late points from Conor Owens and Daly tied it up, though Tyrone will reflect on their wides count of 17, against Down's sole miss.

[Armagh18]

You'd imagine the Omagh boys wouldn't have been in the best of nick of this one after the weekend? Is there many on the panel?