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Would Clogher be a small club in terms of playing numbers, membership etc?

From a Down perspective, the lower half of our SFC would be akin to a lot of other counties' top end IFC. Similarly, at least a half of our IFC teams would be strong JFC standard teams in counties like Monaghan, Tyrone and Cavan. All of our JFC sides would be at the lower end of the stronger counties' JFC's.

[2025 AIB Ulster Club Football Intermediate ChampionshipRound 1 – 1st/2nd November]

2025 AIB Ulster Club Football Intermediate Championship

Round 1 – 1st/2nd November

(Glenullin) Derry V (Moneyglass) Antrim at Celtic Park

Quarter Finals – 8th/9th November

(Cuchulainns) Cavan V (Irvinestown) Fermanagh at Kingspan Breffni
(Clonoe) Tyrone V (Saval) Down at O'Neills Healy Park
(Carrickmacross) Monaghan V (Naomh Columba) Donegal at Clones
(Sarsfields) Armagh V (Glenullin) Derry at Box-It Athletic Grounds

Semi Finals – 22nd/23rd November

Cuchulainns (Cavan) v Clonoe (Tyrone)
Carrickmacross (Monaghan) v Glenullin (Derry)

Final – 6th/7th December


2025 AIB Ulster Club Football Junior Championship

Round 1 – 25th/26th October

(Munterconnaught) Cavan v (Ardglass) Down at Kingspan Breffni

Quarter Finals – 1st/2nd November

(Donagh) Fermanagh v (St Agnes) Antrim at Brewster Park
(Slaughtmanus) Derry v (Clogher) Tyrone at Owenbeg
(Emyvale) Monaghan v (Carndonagh) Donegal at Clones
(Clonmore) Armagh V Munterconnaught (Cavan) at Box-It Athletic Grounds

Semi Finals – 15th/16th November

(Donagh) Fermanagh V (Clogher) Tyrone
(Emyvale) Monaghan V (Munterconnaught) Cavan

Final – 22nd /23rd November

Twinning Final (Home) – 6th/7th December

[2025 AIB Ulster Club Football Intermediate ChampionshipRound 1 – 1st/2nd November]

2025 AIB Ulster Club Football Intermediate Championship

Round 1 – 1st/2nd November

(Glenullin) Derry V (Moneyglass) Antrim at Celtic Park

Quarter Finals – 8th/9th November

(Cuchulainns) Cavan V (Irvinestown) Fermanagh at Kingspan Breffni
(Clonoe) Tyrone V (Saval) Down at O'Neills Healy Park
(Carrickmacross) Monaghan V (Naomh Columba) Donegal at Clones
(Sarsfields) Armagh V (Glenullin) Derry at Box-It Athletic Grounds

Semi Finals – 22nd/23rd November

Winner (a) V Winner (b)
Winner (c) V Winner (d)

Final – 6th/7th December


2025 AIB Ulster Club Football Junior Championship

Round 1 – 25th/26th October

(Munterconnaught) Cavan v (Ardglass) Down at Kingspan Breffni

Quarter Finals – 1st/2nd November

(Donagh) Fermanagh v (St Agnes) Antrim at Brewster Park
(Slaughtmanus) Derry v (Clogher) Tyrone at Owenbeg
(Emyvale) Monaghan v (Carndonagh) Donegal at Clones
(Clonmore) Armagh V Munterconnaught (Cavan) at Box-It Athletic Grounds

Semi Finals – 15th/16th November

(Donagh) Fermanagh V (Clogher) Tyrone
(Emyvale) Monaghan V (Munterconnaught) Cavan

Final – 22nd /23rd November

Twinning Final (Home) – 6th/7th December

What were the foundations of this Loughmacrory team? Was it a succession of strong underage teams competing at Grade 1/2 level or a once in a generation side that have come through as a unit?

Down Junior Championship must be very weak? Cavan's weakest winners in years and hammered Ardglas.

Yes Down Junior football is one of the weakest in Ulster as is evidenced by our year on year poor showings at provincial level. Since the inception of the Ulster JFC we have maybe picked up just 4 or 5 actual wins in our opening games. That's a very poor record.

Ardglass were deserved winners of the JFC this year but wouldn't have been classed as one of our stronger representatives in recent times.

It's difficult to adopt a one size fits all approach, counties like Fermamagh and Monaghan have smaller number of clubs. Emyvale in particular look very strong for junior level this year.

Down have top 16 teams at senior, next 16 at intermediate and bottom 10 in Junior. It works well within the county but probably to our detriment at provincial level in the intermediate and junior grades.

While Emyvale will be strong, just a caveat that it depends on their key players being fit to start. Ryan McAnespie hasn't kicked a ball since going off injured against Donegal. Michael Hamill has been out injured since v Westmeath in Feb. Monaghan U20 full back Johnny Wright hasn't kicked a ball in the JFC due to a groin injury. Another Monaghan U20, Andrew Stuart, is only back from injury. And Karl Gallagher just back from two years with Adelaide Crows came on as a sub and was very impressive in the final. If all 5 of them start, no one in UJFC will come close to them.

That's an unreal embarrassment of riches for a JFC club. You'd never get that in Down where year on year teams are almost exclusively of Junior standard. You'd very rarely see a Junior team in Down with any county representatives in their ranks whether that be at Minor, U-20 or Senior.

[2025 AIB Ulster Club Football Intermediate ChampionshipRound 1 – 1st/2nd November]

2025 AIB Ulster Club Football Intermediate Championship

Round 1 – 1st/2nd November

(Glenullin) Derry V (Moneyglass) Antrim at Celtic Park

Quarter Finals – 8th/9th November

(Cuchulainns) Cavan V (Irvinestown) Fermanagh at Kingspan Breffni
(Clonoe) Tyrone V (Saval) Down at O'Neills Healy Park
(Carrickmacross, Killanny) Monaghan V (Naomh Columba) Donegal at Clones
(Sarsfields) Armagh V Derry/Antrim

If Armagh V Derry, at Box-It Athletic Grounds
If Antrim V Armagh, at Corrigan Park

Semi Finals – 22nd/23rd November

Winner (a) V Winner (b)
Winner (c) V Winner (d)

Final – 6th/7th December


2025 AIB Ulster Club Football Junior Championship

Round 1 – 25th/26th October

(Munterconnaught) Cavan v (Ardglass) Down at Kingspan Breffni

Quarter Finals – 1st/2nd November

(Donagh) Fermanagh v (St Agnes) Antrim at Brewster Park
(Slaughtmanus) Derry v (Clogher) Tyrone at Owenbeg
(Emyvale) Monaghan v (Carndonagh) Donegal at Clones
(Clonmore, Middletown) Armagh V Cavan/Down

If Armagh V Cavan, at Box-It Athletic Grounds
If Down v Armagh, at Páirc Esler

Semi Finals – 15th/16th November
Winner (a) V Winner (b)
Winner (c) V Winner (d)

Final – 22nd /23rd November

Twinning Final (Home) – 6th/7th December

Saval won the IFC in Down with a very convincing win over Annaclone on Saturday. Saval have Pat Havern in their ranks and some really good players for this level. They'd need a big step up to compete at the latter stages of the Ulster IFC though.

Ardglass won their first Down JFC in 23 years on Friday night by beating Kilclief by 4 points. It would be a big shock if they got past the Cavan champions though.

Would expect Cuchullain's of Cavan to be strong and Monaghan as well at intermediate level. What of Down - Pat Havern's club are in the final have they much pedigree in senior? St Paul's and Sarsfields in Armagh seem to be stronger than most years Armagh side too, could be a decent competition.

Havern's club Saval won the IFC in 2022. Solid pedigree at IFC level and would have floated a good bit between it and SFC. Armagh's Martin O'Rourke is in charge of them. They will be facing a Division 3 club in the Down final, either Annaclone or Clann na Banna who have gone to a replay.

[2025 AIB Ulster Club Football Intermediate ChampionshipRound 1 – 1st/2nd November]

2025 AIB Ulster Club Football Intermediate Championship

Round 1 – 1st/2nd November

(Limavady, Glenullin, Foreglen, Greenlough) Derry V (Moneyglass, Sarsfields) Antrim at Celtic Park

Quarter Finals – 8th/9th November

(Cuchulainns) Cavan V (Belcoo, Irvinestown) Fermanagh at Kingspan Breffni
(Eglish, Clonoe) Tyrone V (Clann na Banna, Annaclone, Saval) Down at O'Neills Healy Park
(Carrickmacross, Killanny, Castleblayney, Donaghmoyne) Monaghan V (Naomh Columba) Donegal at Clones
(St Paul's, Sarsfields) Armagh V Derry/Antrim

If Armagh V Derry, at Box-It Athletic Grounds
If Antrim V Armagh, at Corrigan Park

Semi Finals – 22nd/23rd November

Winner (a) V Winner (b)
Winner (c) V Winner (d)

Final – 6th/7th December


2025 AIB Ulster Club Football Junior Championship

Round 1 – 25th/26th October

(Munterconnaught) Cavan v (Ardglass, Kilclief) Down at Kingspan Breffni

Quarter Finals – 1st/2nd November

(Donagh, Newtownbutler) Fermanagh v (St Agnes, Pearses) Antrim at Brewster Park
(Glack, Slaughtmanus, Moneymore, Doire Trasna) Derry v (Drumragh, Clogher, Strabane, Cookstown) Tyrone at Owenbeg
(Emyvale, Sean McDermott's) Monaghan v (Carndonagh, Letterkenny Gaels) Donegal at Clones
(Clonmore, Middletown) Armagh V Cavan/Down

If Armagh V Cavan, at Box-It Athletic Grounds
If Down v Armagh, at Páirc Esler

Semi Finals – 15th/16th November
Winner (a) V Winner (b)
Winner (c) V Winner (d)

Final – 22nd /23rd November

Twinning Final (Home) – 6th/7th December

Two of the favourites for the IFC in Down have been knocked out at the QF stages, Rostrevor and Longstone. Of the five teams remaining, three are Div 3 sides and two are lower end Div 2 sides. It's wide open though.

Our JFC reps last year, Dromara, were the strongest we had in awhile but they still couldn't get by the first hurdle in Ulster. This year's JFC wasn't as strong and again an open field with any of the teams left in it capable of winning it.

[2025 AIB Ulster Club Football Intermediate ChampionshipRound 1 – 1st/2nd November]

2025 AIB Ulster Club Football Intermediate Championship

Round 1 – 1st/2nd November

(Limavady, Craigbane, Glenullin, Ballymaguigan, Foreglen, Claudy, Coleraine, Greenlough) Derry V (Moneyglass, St Teresa's, Glenavy, Sarsfields) Antrim at Celtic Park

Quarter Finals – 8th/9th November

(Cuchulainns, Killinkere, Butlersbridge, Cornafean) Cavan V (Tempo, Belcoo, Irvinestown, Devenish, Roslea, Aghadrumsee) Fermanagh at Kingspan Breffni
(Eglish, Aghaloo, Moy, Clonoe) Tyrone V (Longstone, Clann na Banna, Annaclone, Saval, St John's, Atticall) Down at O'Neills Healy Park
(Carrickmacross, Tyhollland, Killanny, Doohamlet, Castleblayney, Donaghmoyne) Monaghan V (Naomh Columba, Malin) Donegal at Clones
(Grange, Shane O'Neills, St Paul's, Sarsfields) Armagh V Derry/Antrim

If Armagh V Derry, at Box-It Athletic Grounds
If Antrim V Armagh, at Corrigan Park

Semi Finals – 22nd/23rd November

Winner (a) V Winner (b)
Winner (c) V Winner (d)

Final – 6th/7th December


2025 AIB Ulster Club Football Junior Championship

Round 1 – 25th/26th October

(Munterconnaught, Kill) Cavan v (Bright, Ardglass, East Belfast, Glasdrumman, Kilclief, Drumaness) Down at Kingspan Breffni

Quarter Finals – 1st/2nd November

(Donagh, Newtownbutler, Coa, Brookeborough) Fermanagh v (St Agnes, Eire Óg, Laochra Loch Lao, Pearses) Antrim at Brewster Park
(Glack, Magilligan, Slaughtmanus, Drum, Moneymore, Sean Dolans, Doire Trasna, Doire Colmcille) Derry v (Drumragh, Clogher, Strabane, Cookstown) Tyrone at Owenbeg
(Scotstown, Eire Óg, Currin, Aghabog, Emyvale, Rockcorry, Sean McDermott's, Blackhill) Monaghan v (Carndonagh, Convoy, Naomh Bríd, Letterkenny Gaels) Donegal at Clones
(Thomas Davis, An Port Mór, Clonmore, Middletown) Armagh V Cavan/Down

If Armagh V Cavan, at Box-It Athletic Grounds
If Down v Armagh, at Páirc Esler

Semi Finals – 15th/16th November
Winner (a) V Winner (b)
Winner (c) V Winner (d)

Final – 22nd /23rd November

Twinning Final (Home) – 6th/7th December

That was an unreal gig in Croke. Oasis were phenomenal. The professionalism and execution from them was something else. Liam also got an ode to Charlestown!

So did Westport win 2023? First Mayo team ever to win Div 1?

I wonder how many have a Feile winners medal and an All Ireland Senior?

A good few of the 2006 Kilcoo Feile winning team went on to win the All Ireland Senior Club title in 2022.