Ulster Minor Football Club Championship 2010 (at St Pauls)

[Schkite]

Clontibret won the Monaghan championship tonight. What's the draw in Ulster like?

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Clontibret won the Monaghan championship tonight. What's the draw in Ulster like?

Draw is normally made by Chris Ward at a wee do in the Northern Bank in Belfast city centre in conjunction with Saint Pauls Belfast on the Monday night after the last of the County Minor Finals has been decided.
In 2009 the games were drawn out on October 19th.

Edit: The draw for this year's Competition will take place on Tuesday October 26th.

[Schkite]

Ah right, grand, thought the draw might have been made seeing as the senior competition was. Was thinking alright that it's a good while away yet before the games will start anyway.

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Aughadrumsee beat Belcoo in the Fermanagh final a couple of months ago.

Minor win a major boost for Aughadrumsee

Aughadrumsee 1-11  Belcoo 1-07

Aughadrumsee clinched a first ever minor title on Friday night as they overcame a Belcoo side seeking a third minor championship crown in a row at Brewster Park.

An excellent all round team performance took Aughadrumsee to the victory and manager Ciaran Carey explained that it is a very big achievement for the club.

"We've won minor titles when we have been joined with other clubs but this is the first on our own and it means a lot to us. It is the culmination of a lot of work with this particular group of players. Four years ago this team were playing U14 Division Three football but they have progressed up the ranks and last year was a big stepping stone. We reached the Division One league final so we knew that we weren't too far away," stated Carey.

He added: "We would have been disappointed that we did not finish in the top four in the league and then to have lost the Division Two final to Kinawley but the players have shown great character to come back from those setbacks and win the championship. I'm delighted for the players as they have put in so much effort."


A tough challenge during Aughadrumsee's win over Belcoo at Brewster Park on Friday night.

Aughadrumsee had the advantage of the breeze in the first half and they got off to a reasonable start with Eddie Courtney knocking over a free and John Joe Strain firing over another point from play to give them an early advantage.

Belcoo dangerman Johnny Feely got his side up and running with their first point of the contest but Aughadrumsee hit a hot streak as they accounted for the next four points.

Courtney, who was superb throughout, drilled over a line ball and a 45 while Strain also added to the tally. And it took a wonderful save from Belcoo goalkeeper Paddy Sweeney to deny Jarlath Durnien a goal, Sweeney pushing his effort over the bar as Aughadrumsee moved into a 0-06 to 0-01 lead.

Belcoo though responded with a good spell of their own around the 20 minute mark as Stephen Nolan landed a free while Philip Leonard notched two points from play to cut the deficit back to two points, 0-06 to 0-04.

However, Aughadrumsee were to finish the half the stronger. A long ball by Courtney was punched to the net by Strain and Stephen Flynn then fizzed a shot over the top to leave them six clear at the interval, 1-07 to 0-04.

Belcoo, however, were right back in contention at the start of the second half when Feely collected a long ball from Leonard and rocketed a shot into the roof of the net, and when the same player followed up with a point from a free in left only two between them.

Aughadrumsee though were always able to maintain that two point advantage and with Andy Toye and Aidan Flanagan mopping up a lot of ball at the back they managed to weather the storm. It was to be a hard fought second half but as the half progressed Courtney and Strain became more inflential with both registering points.

Nolan and Feely were among the points for Belcoo as they stayed in touch but they could get no closer than two points with Aughadrumsee always able to respond to Belcoo scores, Durnien again knocking over.

With five minutes remaining Sweeney kept Belcoo's hopes alive as he pulled off a terrific save from Flynn but a point from Strain was to be the insurance score for Aughadrumsee who held on for a memorable victory.

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17-09-10 (Friday)
Antrim Minor Football Championship Final
Lámh Dhearg v St Johns
20:00   Casement Park
Referee: Eamon Trainor

They are having another go at playing this the night - director's cut with added floodlights.
Free in for all.

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Clontibret Club Notes

Monaghan Minor Football Championship Final

Minor Champions Again
Clontibret 0-19  Latton 0-06

Well done to the minor lads and their managers, Cathal and Mickey on bringing the Fergal O'Hanlon Cup for  the Minor Championship back to Clontibret again.

It turned out to be somewhat easier than expected as the Latton challenge fizzled out in the second half but all the disappointments that this bunch of lads have had to endure since under 12 were exorcised in Ballybay on Sunday evening last as they made sure there was no way back for their gallant opponents.

This was a terrific all round team display littered with gems of individual excellence, including Eoin McGuigan's Man of the Match display on the 40, Conor Boyle's three first half points against the wind and the run of play, Ryan McGuigan's cameo at the end yielding three points after the disappointment of not being able to start with an injured arm, and Captain David Savage's inspiring leadership up front. A year to remember for these young players and we look forward to seeing many of them in action in higher grades as the year progresses.

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Antrim Minor Football Championship Final
By Ed McGinley - at Casement Park

Lámh Dhearg 0-14 St John's 0-03

Lámh Dhearg captured their first Minor Football title since 1992, only the third in the Hannahstown club's history, on Friday evening by way of an 11-point victory over St John's. The result was never in doubt as the Lámhs took a four-point lead at the break before racing clear in the second half.

Joint manager Terry McCrudden was understandably delighted with the triumph but was quick to offer words of respect for the Johnnies and the challenge they posed. "We have been in four finals in our entire history so to win tonight I'm absolutely over the moon," said Terry who is in charge of the team along with Frankie Fitzsimmons. "I don't think we played well at all but St John's were always going to make it very difficult for us. They are a good team, with good coaches but I knew we would get there in the end. I was confident in our scoring and tackling ability."

McCrudden also outlined the long-term plan, which the minor management team has implemented in the hope of bringing senior success to the club. "Frankie (Fitzsimmons) and I got this team five years ago and all we did was concentrate on the basics. Our goal was to get them through to senior football," added Terry. "Winning U16 and minor titles is a by product. A good one at that but four or five of them are already playing senior so for Frankie and I that's success for us."

A sizeable crowd was in attendance at Casement Park for the long-awaited decider, which had fallen victim to a floodlight failure almost two weeks ago. But if it was thrills they were after then they should have made the short trip across to the fun fare, which illuminated the night sky, minutes away. This was a nervy encounter and lacked any real rhythm over the course of the hour's play.

Lámh Dhearg made their intentions clear seconds into the game when Darren Mervyn rampaged through the Johnnies defence and fired over the opening point. The next ten minutes of play were not quite as clever as the Lámhs posted three appalling wides before Declan Lynch stopped the rot with a composed point from distance. Even at this early stage it was apparent that St John's were struggling with the imposing physical threat of the Hannahstown pack. While efficient going forward they relentlessly hunted down St John's when they didn't have possession, making it extremely difficult for the Whiterock boys to clear their lines.

The Johnnies had the excellent Kylan Allsopp to thank as the goalkeeper produced a superb stop to prevent Gerard Slane from raising the green flag. Darren Mervyn split the posts with an eye-catching strike from long-range before the Johnnies registered their first point of the game courtesy of Jack Hannigan, who wriggled clear of two men and clinically stroked the ball over the bar. Man of the match Ryan Murray then got in on the action with his first point of the day while minutes later good movement off the ball helped James Lyndsey to record the final point of the half, giving Lámh Dhearg a four-point cushion.

Aaron McAufield lit up the re-start as the corner back showed his attacking compatriots exactly how it should be done with a sweet, swerving point on the run. A string of changes from both sides followed, which inevitably curtailed the flow of what was already a stuttering final. Murray then came into his own with a series of top drawer scores with Padraig McBride's free the only resistance St John's could engineer. Lámh Dhearg substitutes Matt McKiernan and Kevin Quinn added their names to the score-sheet while Andy Magowan's free on 52 minutes was the Johnnies third, and last, point of the evening.
Murray continued to shine but it was left to Quinn to complete the scoring to round off a handsome 11-point victory for the ecstatic Lámh Dhearg squad.

LÁMH DHEARG: G McKeown, A McAufield, C McGarry, C Monaghan, M McGarry, D Stranney, M Hynes, S Tully, D Mervyn, J Lyndsey, G Slane, M Jordan, R Murray, D Lynch, C Maxwell.

ST JOHN'S: K Allsopp, R McCafferty, C Morgan, C Morgan, P McBride, C Johnston, L Peden, D Best, E Douglas, J Hannigan, A Magowan, J Garland, F Morgan, C Johnston, D Craigan.

[Any craic]

http://www.antrimgaa.net/// - there's a short video report here on the Antrim website from the Lamh Dhearg match with pics of the lads returning to their club with the cup and a bit of craic on the pitch after the game.

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25-09-10 (Saturday)
Derry Minor Football Championship Final
Ballinderry Shamrocks v Magherafelt O'Donovan Rossa
4-15pm   Celtic Park
President M McAleese

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26-09-10 (Sunday)
Cavan Minor Football Championship Final
Cavan Gaels v St. Josephs
1-45pm   Breffni Park
Ciaran McCarville

[passedit]

25-09-10 (Saturday)
Derry Minor Football Championship Final
Ballinderry Shamrocks v Magherafelt O'Donovan Rossa
4-15pm   Celtic Park
President M McAleese

She'll never keep up with the play in those heels

[drici]

Rossa Minor Footballers Win Derry Championship

Magherafelt O'Donovan Rossa 3-08 Ballinderry Shamrocks 1-07

  The Rossa Minors captured the All County A Minor Championship title on Saturday afternoon in an exciting match at Celtic Park. They defeated Ballinderry on a scoreline of 3-08 to 1-07. This was another historical win for the Rossas as we have waited 18 years to recapture a minor all county championship title. The Club are extremely proud of the players and management for their efforts and determination in winning the championship this season. The team will now compete in the Minor Ulster Club Championship in November. The draw for this stage has yet to take place.

Match Report from Seamus Mullan:

Blistering Finish

It's a well used sporting cliché that goals win games and that was very definitely true of this match as Rossas plundered three in the final quarter to take complete control of the match on the scoreboard.

Again, while their forwards did the business on the scoreboard their defence played their part with a battling performance that kept Ballinderry at bay without conceding too many frees in the scoring zone. Rossas scored 1-07 from placed balls, Shamrocks 0-03, a sure indicator of the difference between the respective defences in the tackles. Simply put Ballinderry conceded too many frees in the scoring zone and were duly punished.

Magherafelt trailed 1-07 to 0-08 with twelve minutes to go but Rossas then scored goals in the 48th, in the 51st from a penalty and in the 60th for a sensational eight point victory.

The former Lavey All Ireland club championship medallist suggested that the turning point came just before the first goal.

He told me, "I thought that a tackle on the side line just before Blaine Atchison's goal was the turning point. Ballinderry were in possession but Atchison put in a strong tackle to turn over the ball and he was then in the right place shortly afterwards to palm the ball to the net to give us the lead."

From that point onwards there was only one winner, Rossas winning a penalty ten minutes from time for a late tackle on Conor Kearns, with Christopher Spiers netting from the penalty spot. They added a third in the last minute for a deserved victory and their first minor title in eighteen years.

Incredible Start

Aaron Devlin was fouled at the throw in and he played the free quickly to Ryan Bell who put Harry Wilkinson through on goal and he made no mistake with fifteen seconds on the stopwatch.

On the kick out Darren Lawn was fouled and Tony Martin found Ryan Bell from the free and he sent the ball soaring high over the bar for 1-01 to no score with seventy seconds showing.

Three minutes later Enda McLaughlin picked off a loose pass ball from Aaron Devlin, the ball then carried forward by Anton McElhone and Conor Kearns. The latter was fouled and opened Rossas' account from the free.

McElhone then took a pass from McLaughlin and set up Stephen Lagan for a well-taken point on eight minutes. Magherafelt then created a goaling chance in the 10th minute when Conor Kearns

fisted the ball to Fergal Duffin in space in front of goal but he delayed his shot and was then forced to shoot hurriedly wide.

Daniel McKinless fouled Kearns a minute later and Christopher Spiers cut the lead to the minimum, 1-01 to 0-03. Another wondrous catch from Devlin in the middle of the field led to a scoring chance for Fintan Bell but he pulled his shot wide.

Midway through the half Ryan Ferris was booked for a late challenge on Daniel McKinless and Tony Martin pointed the free to end Ballinderry's thirteen minute barren spell. Spiers then won a free and pointed for 1-02 to 0-04.

Ten minutes from half time the sides were all square when Kearns landed a free when Gareth McKinless fouled Spiers. Magherafelt were in the ascendancy at this stage and it was no surprise that they took the lead eight minutes from half time. Lee Martin was penalised for touching the ball on the ground, Gareth McKinless picking up a yellow card for dissent. Spiers was on target from the free, Rossas in front for the first time.

Darren Lawn conceded a free and Ryan Ferris found Spiers who put Kearns through but he sliced the ball wide of the post.

Three minutes from half time Fergal Duffin was fouled and Spiers extended the Rossas lead to 0-07 to 1-02. However in the closing minutes of the half Paul O'Kane was penalised for touching the ball on the ground and Ryan Bell pointed the free.

The full forward repeated the scoring act in added time from another free when Ferris fouled Devlin, the sides now all square at 0-07 to 1-04 when the half time whistle sounded.

There was bit of tit for tat gamesmanship from both sides just before the start of the second half. Rossas came out onto the pitch for the second half, Ballinderry a bit tardy in returning to the fray. Rossas then decided to return to the dressing room and met Shamrocks at they were coming out onto the pitch! Rossas continued on their way to the dressing room, waited a couple of minutes and then came back out to start the game!

Still Ballinderry were first to make their point on the pitch within forty five seconds of the throw in, Ryan bell converting a free when Declan Bell was fouled. They added a second after four minutes through Fintan Bell after good work from Daniel McKinless and Harry Wilkinson.

Rossas got into their scoring stride in the 35th minute when Spiers pointed a free following a foul on Phillip McCusker but that proved the last score for ten minutes after Fergal Duffin, Phillip McCusker and Christopher Spiers from a '45' had Magherafelt wides.

Midway through the half Fintan Bell took a pass from Daniel McKinless and played the ball to the goalmouth where it broke to Lee Martin and he hooked it cleverly over the bar for a two point lead. That proved to be Ballinderry's last score as Rossas took control of the game and converted their dominance into scores.

Three Goal Blast

Gareth McKinless was booked for a foul on Niall Higgins, as was Tony Martin for a challenge on substitute Phillip McCusker. The latter drilled the ball high across the goalmouth from the free, the unmarked Blaine Atchison timing his run and his jump to perfection to palm the dropping ball back across the keeper to the net in the 47th minute.

While Christopher Spiers was waiting to take a free on the '45' metre line the referee was alerted to a bit of a scuffle in back play between Ballinderry's Matt Quinn and Magherafelt's Blaine Atchison and he booked both players. From the free the ball reached Spiers who sent it well wide.

Ten minutes from time Conor Kearns soloed through the heart of the Ballinderry defence but Canice Rocks pulled him down from behind. The referee blew for a free, then booked Rocks and pointed to the penalty spot. Spiers blasted the ball to the roof of the net to put four points between the sides.

Another barren scoring spell followed before Stephen Lagan buried the ball in the back of the net in the first minute of added time and Phillip McCusker lofted the ball over the bar a minute later to confirm Magherafelt's first minor title for eighteen years.

The Magherafelt scorers were Christopher Spiers 1-05, 0-05 frees, 1-00 pen, Stephen Lagan 1-01, Blaine Atchison 1-00, Conor Kearns 0-02 frees

The Ballinderry scorers were Ryan Bell 0-04, 0-03 frees, Harry Wilkinson 1-00, Stephen McGuckin, Fintan Bell and Lee Martin 0-01 each

Magherafelt

Conor McLarnon; Paul O'Kane, Peter Quinn, Paudie Kielt; Niall Higgins, Ryan Ferris, Michael Kerr; Fergal Duffin, Peter McErlean; Anton McElhone, Stephen McGuckin, Conor Kearns; Enda McLaughlin, Stephen Lagan, Christopher Spiers

-Blaine Atchison for Peter McErlean 18 mins

-Phillip McCusker for Stephen McGuckin 35 mins

-Fintan Quinn for Anton McElhone 58 mins

-Peter McErlean for Fergal Duffin 58 mins

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Cavan Minor Football Championship Final

St Josephs snatch draw in Minor Final


Kevin Bouchier reaches for possession.


Cavan Gaels 2-12 St Joseph's 2-12

Breffni Park witnessed one of the most dramatic finishes to a minor final in living memory when St Joseph's came from eight points down with three minutes of normal time remaining to snatch a draw against Cavan Gaels in this riveting Division One minor final.

An excellent goal from sub Vincent Coyle with time almost up made it 2-12 to 0-10 in favour of Cavan Gaels and looked to have killed off the contest but St Joe's had other ideas.

A good point from Cian Sheridan had the look of a consolation score all over it but even when a long punt from his midfield colleague Cein Sweeney fortuitously found its way to the net moments later, the complexion of the match hadn't changed much.

Cue another point, this time from Brian Ellis, to reduce the deficit to a goal with time up. The Killeshandra-Arva-Drumlane crew's only hope was to win the next kick-out and somehow engineer a goal which was, amazingly, what they did. Sweeney grabbed the ball at centre-field and ti went through a number of hands before reaching wing-forward Gary Tubman, who planted an unstoppable finish to the top corner of Morgan Young's net.

A draw in the end was a fair result after what was a barnstormer of a contest.

In perfect playing conditions, St Joe's started the brighter. They led by 0-3 to 0-1 after nine minutes following points from Conor Higgins (free), Aaron Brady and a sweet solo effort from Sweeney.

An excellent point from eye-catching wing-back Jonathan McCabe extended their lead to three with a dozen minutes played but the Gaels replied with a sweet 45 from Cian Byrne, who was arguably the most impressive attacker on show over the 60 minutes.

A point for Tubman - who has had a busy season and will line out in the Intermediate final for Drumlane on Sunday week - made it 0-5 to 0-2 but points from Pauric Sexton, county minor midfielder Paul Graham and Ryan Johnston levelled it up with 17 minutes played.

The Gaels, as usual, were well-drilled and displayed plenty of confidence; St Joe's, for their part, were stronger in many positions and played some exceptional football but seemed to panic and lose their way for long spells.

A good point from the pacy Sexton was cancelled out by two from Kevin Bouchier (one free after a foul on Ellis) in the final two minutes of the half to leave St Joe's ahead by the odd point in 13 at the break.

A super point from Tubman, who poked over after a good save from Young, opened the second half scoring and a 45-metre free from Bouchier - who showed glimpses of staggering ability at times - made it 0-9 to 0-6 before Byrne curled in a good point in reply.

St Joseph's were creating the vast majority of the chances at this stage but over-elaboration and poor shooting allowed the Gaels to slip off the hook. Bouchier saw an effort on goal glide inches wide of the post in the 41st minute before Paul O'Connor combined with impressive sub Stephen Murray to set up Byrne for a good point seconds later.

A well-struck Coyle free levelled matters in the 44th minute and when Murray set up Sexton moments later for the lead score, the feeling was that St Joseph's had missed the boat.

Bouchier tied it at 0-10 apiece but Cavan Gaels began to move through the gears and broke through for their first goal soon after when two defenders collided going for the same ball, allowing O'Connor the chance to bury it - the county minor full-forward duly obliged.

Bouchier could and should have had another goal a minute later when he did everything right, throwing a defender off with an outrageous dummy solo in the square before missing the target.

The Gaels took heart from this and drove on, Andrew Graham tapping over to make it 1-11 to 0-10. Another Byrne point followed as a sense of inevitability hung over proceedings and when Coyle ghosted in and buried a superb goal in the dying moments, the Cavan Gaels supporters could have been forgiven for thinking this one was done and dusted.

St Joe's never gave up however and it was they, and not the league champions, who will carry the momentum into what looks an intriguing replay next Sunday (curtain-raiser to the JFC final).

If it's half as exciting as this clash - which was very well handled by ref Kieran McCarville - it will be a classic.

Cavan Gaels: M Young, K Donohoe, S Fitzsimons, P Mulligan, F Donohoe, D Sexton, D Mulligan, C McKiernan, P Graham (0-1), C Byrne (0-5, 1 45), R Johnston (0-1), A Graham (0-1), P O'Connor (1-0), P Sexton (0-3)

SUBS: V Coyle (1-1, 0-1f), S Murray, K Brady

St Joseph's: G Lynch, C Smith, F Rudden, C Lunney, J Masterson, C Brady, J McCabe (0-1), C Sweeney (1-1), C Sheridan (0-1), P Connolly, C Higgins (0-1f), G Tubman (1-2), A Brady (0-1), B Ellis (0-1), K Bouchier (0-4, 3f)

SUBS: C McGerty, A Brady

REF: K McCarville (Cootehill)

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Score Board photographs are class.

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St Joseph's: 
On Sunday last St Joseph's Minor Team travelled to Breffni Park for the replay of the Cavan Minor Football Championship Final with Cavan Gaels. Unfortunately St Joseph's had a player sent off early in the game and they eventually tired as the Gaels took over in the last 10 minutes when they took the lead. The final score of Cavan Gaels 2- 13 St Joseph's 1-06 did not do justice to a gallant St Joseph's team who fought all the way to the final whistle.