Fionn's early Monday morning review of the past 48 hours...
Commiserations to Galbally whom put up a good fight on Saturday night in the Athletic Grounds, but lost out to Monaghan IFC championship Magheracloone whom by most accounts were the slightly better team on the day and deserving winners. Losing in an Ulster Final for your club is not something that is easy to take, but Galbally can by all accounts say that they had a very successful domestic season, with their seniors doing the IFC/Div 2 double & the reserves also winning the league whilst losing out in the IRFC final only by a point to Greencastle. A team that should be worth looking at for 2020 at senior level.
Meanwhile back in Tyrone, Loughmacrory managed to achieve promotion to the senior ranks on Saturday in Killeeshil when they accounted for Eglish in the Div 1/2 play-off by 0-12 to 0-6. The result sees Loughmacrory play with the big boys in 2020 alongside Galbally & Pomeroy. For Eglish however, there will be bitter disappointment in being relegated straight away after winning the Division 2 league in 2018. That game now wraps up all ACL activity for 2019.
The first of the Under 21 Grade 1 semi-finals took place in Newtownstewart on Sunday between Dungannon & Dromore - Dungannon marching on to the final with a solid 2-8 to 0-6 win. They will now meet either Carrickmore or Galbally, whose semi-final will surely be fixed very soon with the latter's loss in the Ulster club IFC.
The only youth football activity to be round up for 2019 is the Under 13 Grade 3 league, and the final will be between Drumragh and Castlederg - the two teams won their semi-finals on Sunday, Castlederg comfortably accounting for Clonoe at home 8-13 to 3-3, while Drumragh went to Edendork and defeated the home side by two points, 3-10 to 4-5.
Expanding horizons slightly, congrats to St. Joseph's Donaghmore whom won their first ever "A" grade schools title after defeating Inishowen Colleges in the Sciath na nÓg (Under 14.5 "A" shield) final at a windy Killyclogher 1-7 to 1-5 last Tuesday. Coming up, St. Ciaran's Ballygawley will face St. Colm's Draperstown in the Arthurs Cup (Under 16.5 "C") final which will be held under lights at MUSA in Cookstown on Wednesday 11th December, throw-in 8.00pm - St. Colm's reached the final having defeated the Dean Maguirc Carrickmore in their semi-final. St. Ciaran's also have another final to look forward to when they will face another Derry school, St. Conor's Clady/Kilrea in the McDevitt (Under 14.5 "C") final, date yet to be arranged. Keeping track of schools competitions across the board isn't the easiest of jobs, but it's worth keeping an eye out!
To be fixed...
Under 21 G1 Championship Semi-Final
Galbally vs. Carrickmore (neutral venue)
Under 21 G1 Championship Final
Dungannon vs. Galbally or Carrickmore (neutral venue)
Under 13 G3 League Final
Castlederg vs. Drumragh (neutral venue)
