Messages

An Port Mor defeated St Peters in round two of the Under 21 Championship earlier today.  The Blackwater side enjoyed home advantage and raced into a four point lead early in the second quarter.  However, St Peter's fought back to draw level at half-time.  An Port Mor, managed by Neill 'Bomber' McGleenan and his Tyrone sidekick Keith Lavery, produced a storming second half display to emerge victorious by five points.  Full forward Michael Casey was An Port Mor's star performer on a day when the winners could even afford the luxury of a missed penalty in the final quarter.

I am glad that the whole controversy surrounding the Errigal v Enniskillen quarter-final would now appear to be over and that the Ulster Senior Club Championship can go ahead as normal.  No one can really blame Enniskillen or Errigal for the recent mess.  Having watched a recording of the game during the week, it was clear that referee Gregory Walsh had a lot to answer for.  The guy was completely out of his depth and the number of yellow cards he issued during the course of the match was a joke.  He made a mockery of the entire game and I hope never to see this individual take charge of another match of this importance ever again.  Tyrone referees often come in for a lot of flak but there are none of them worse than Mr Walsh.

Now that I have got all that off my chest, I am really looking forward to the double bill in Casement tomorrow.  The weather will certainly be doing its best to spoil things but it should be an interesting afternoon all the same. 

Errigal actually go into the senior clash against Ballinderry in a nice position.  They may not have impressed too many in the opening round at Omagh last week, but they did win a close and hard fought affair without playing well.  Ballinderry, on the other hand, were hardly tested against Mayobridge and the tag of firm favourites may not rest that easily with them.  I expect Errigal to be all fired up for what should be another gruelling encounter, although the fact that The Great One may not be 100% fit is a worry for the Tyrone champions.  To date, no one on the Errigal team has taken any great responsibility when he has been absent.  Players like Eoin Gormley must really step up to the mark tomorrow if Errigal are to cause an upset. 

Meanwhile, the Intermediate tie between Stewartstown and Ballymacnab is a tasty little curtain-raiser to the main event.  Both teams play a very attractive brand of football and would appear to evenly matched.  I certainly wouldn't rule out a Tyrone double victory at Casement tomorrow, and how sweet that would be against Derry and Armagh opposition!     

[SFC]

So, there we have it....the outcome of all twelve games in the Ulster Club Championships today are now known.  By my reckoning, Tyrone are the only county to have their Senior, Intermediate and Junior Champions through to the semi-final stages.

SFC
Cargin 0-12  Clontibret 1-9
Errigal Ciaran 0-7 Enniskillen Gaels 0-6
Ballinderry 0-15  Mayobridge 0-1
Crossmaglen 2-13 Mullahoran 1-7

IFC
Fanad Gaels 2-8 Coleraine 2-9
Belcoo beat Drumgath
Ballymacnab beat Drumalee
Carrickmacross 2-8 Stewartstown 2-9

JFC
Coa lost to N. Brid
Bredagh 5-13 Drum 0-4
Greencastle 0-21 Ardoyne 0-3
Drumhowen 1-12  An Port Mor 1-8

[Clan na Gael 1-11 Moy 1-5]

Division 1B Promotion Play-Off
Clan na Gael 1-11 Moy 1-5
There were terrible conditions in Beragh yesterday for what turned out to be a terrible game of football.  Moy played with wind advantage in the first half but suffered a major blow after only fourteen minutes when full forward Sean Cavanagh was forced to leave the fray with a serious ankle injury that could keep him out of action for several weeks.  Before his departure, Sean had scored Moy's only point and had a goal attempt strike the post.  He also came in for some Aussie style special treatment from the Clan na Gael full back who was issued with a yellow card followed by a black tick early on for fouling Sean on and off the ball.  Losing Sean proved too much of a setback for Moy who were already missing three key players, including Ryan Mellon and Colm Cavanagh, through suspension.  Clan na Gael, aided by the twin attacking threat of Stephen O'Neill and Gareth McDermott, led 1-5 to 1-3 at half-time.  Only two points separated the sides entering the final quarter but Clan na Gael finished strongly with four unanswered scores to run out comfortable enough winners in the end.

[SFC]

Can anyone fill in the blanks from today?  Any of the Armagh posters know how the Nab got on today in Crossmaglen?

SFC
Cargin 0-12  Clontibret 1-9
Errigal Ciaran 0-7 Enniskillen Gaels 0-6
Ballinderry 0-15  Mayobridge 0-1
Crossmaglen 2-13 Mullahoran 1-7

IFC
Fanad Gaels 2-8 Coleraine 2-9
Belcoo beat Drumgath
Ballymacnab v Drumalee
Carrickmacross 2-8 Stewartstown 2-9

JFC
Coa lost to N. Brid
Bredagh 5-13 Drum 0-4
Greencastle 0-21 Ardoyne 0-3
Drumhowen 1-12  An Port Mor 1-8

[Drumhowan (Muineachán) 1-12 An Port Mór (Ard Mhacha) 1-8]

Clones hosted an excellent double bill of games today in the Ulster Club Championships.  Two terrific games...even though the An Port Mor result was very disappointing.

Junior Quarter-Final
Drumhowan (Muineachán) 1-12  An Port Mór (Ard Mhacha) 1-8

Thanks Redhandfan. Anyword where the game will be next Sunday?

ziggysego, I am not sure where your game will be next weekend but watch out for the big Drumhowan full forward James McElroy...he is their dangerman.  It is hard to judge just how good this Drumhowan side is.  Everything they kicked today went over for them but, with a little bit of luck, An Port Mor could have come out on top.  They have a sound midfield and very lively attack but can be vulnerable in defence when run at.  Check out my match report above!

That was some win for Greencastle today.  I reckon you can get the better of those Monaghan boys in the semi-finals.  Good luck.  It is great to see the three Tyrone teams still alive and kicking in the Ulster Championship!

[Drumhowan (Muineachán) 1-12 An Port Mór (Ard Mhacha) 1-8]

Clones hosted an excellent double bill of games today in the Ulster Club Championships.  Two terrific games...even though the An Port Mor result was very disappointing.

Junior Quarter-Final
Drumhowan (Muineachán) 1-12  An Port Mór (Ard Mhacha) 1-8
Very little went right for An Port Mor in this match.  Wasted opportunites in front of goal combined with some dreadful refereeing did not help their cause.  Short a couple of key players, the team showed plenty of heart and determination throughout but they simply did not get any breaks.  Drumhowan deserved to win, if only for their excellent discipline and ability to make every scoring chance count.  Towering full forward James McElroy played a real captain's part for the Monaghan champions and proved a thorn in An Port Mor's side over the hour.  An Port Mor trailed by eight points approaching half-time (0-3 to 1-8) but their huge support were given a glimmer of hope when Gary Traynor scored a goal just before the break.  The Blackwater men came out with all guns blazing in the second half and were the better team for much of this period.  Drumhowan had their goalkeeper to thank shortly after the restart for making two point blank saves which proved crucial to the final outcome.  An Port Mor got to within three points of their opponents in an exciting second period but Drumhowan, who were aided by a number of decisions from the Down referee, did enough to hold out for the win.

Intermediate Quarter-Final
Carrickmacross (Muineachán) 2-8  Stewartstown (Tir Eoghain) 2-9
The second match at Clones was a very entertaining affair with both teams producing some wonderful attacking football.  The game was a superb advertisement for Ulster club football.  Carrickmacross really put it up to the Tyrone champions early on with two fine goals but Stewartstown looked the better team for long periods of the first half and deserved to be ahead on a scoreline of 1-7 to 2-2 at the interval.  Owen Coyle fisted a real opportunist goal for the winners during that first half.  Stewartstown succeeded in holding on to their lead until the remainder of the match but it was a real struggle towards the end as Carrickmacross edged ever closer to their opponents and had a couple of last gasp efforts for an equaliser that went narrowly wide.  Right corner forward Andrew Callan was Carrickmacross's best player on the day and had a part to play in most of their scores.  Stewartstown had a number of good performers but those who really caught the eye were corner back Paul Gahan, centre half forward Peter Armour and full forward Gareth Devlin.  Devlin was my man of the match and looks to be the real deal.  I would love to see this guy get his chance soon to impress at senior inter-county level for Tyrone.

[Cargin]

Before the results come in, how about offering some predictions for this weekend's games.  Here are mine:

SFC
Cargin v Clontibret
Errigal Ciaran v Enniskillen Gaels
Ballinderry v Mayobridge
Mullahoran v Crossmaglen

IFC
Fanad Gaels v Coleraine
Belcoo v Drumgath
Ballymacnab v Drumalee
Carrickmacross v Stewartstown

JFC
Coa v N. Brid
Bredagh v Drum
Greencastle v Ardoyne
Drumhowen v An Port Mor

So far, so good. 

A big thanks to Fionntamhnach for producing the excellent club crests.

Let's hope posters like realredhandfan will behave themselves on this new Board and come up with some meaningful discussion for a change.   

Kieran Donaghy...a deserving winner.

His Beragh counterpart Alan Rodgers must surely take a lot of credit for this.

[An Charraig Mhór]

Senior Reserve Knockout Competition semi-final
Pomeroy v An Charraig Mhór @ Loughmacrory

O'Neill's Sportswear Tyrone Division 1A League Final
Dromore v Donaghmore @ Killeeshil

O'Neill's Sportswear Tyrone Division 1A League Relegation Play-Off
Kildress v Cookstown @ Rock

O'Neill's Sportswear Tyrone Division 1B League Promotion Play-Off
Clann na nGael v Moy @ Beragh

O'Neill's Sportswear Tyrone Division 2 League Promotion Play-Off
Strabane v Fintona

O'Neill's Sportswear Tyrone Division 2 League Relegation Play-Off
Drumragh v Eglish

O'Neill's Sportswear Tyrone Division 3 League Promotion Play-Off
Newtownstewart v Tattyreagh @ Greencastle

Club: An Mhaigh Tir na nOg G.A.C.
County:  Tir Eoghain
Best Football Memory:  When Peter met Sam in 2003