Paul McGirr u16 Championship

[PMG1]

This year's tournament will be launched on Friday 23rd October in Garvaghy.  Southern Gaels of Cavan, Inniskeen of Monaghan and I believe Bredagh of Down are the qualifiers so far, Tyrone, Donegal and Derry are at semi final stage and fermanagh is at the final stage we believe.  Any other information is most welcome as to who else has qualified.  It is hoped first game will be played in the last week of October

[FermGael]

U 16 final is on Sunday in fermanagh 
Enniskillen Gaels vs St Josephs Edenery

[tyroneman]

Clann Eireann are the Armagh representatives

[PMG1]

Hi folks, the launch of this season Paul McGirr U16 Club Champions Tournament takes place this evening at 8:30 in Garvaghy, everyone is welcome to come along and see the wonderful work being done by the the Spirit of Paul McGirr Trust. The draw for the tournament will take place also with some guest speakers sure to keep all entertained. 

[imtommygunn]

Rossa won antrim. I think they have won this before.

[bigfrank]

Great competition,was lucky enough to have played in it and won it,seriously high standard of ball guaranteed

[Newbridge Exile]

Derry Final is on this weekend, Magherafelt will be fancied as they caused a massive upset at the semi final stage by beating Bellaghy

[PMG1]

Draw was made tonight,  first up next weekend is the preliminary round game between Enniskillen Gaels and the Tyrone champions which will be either Loughmacrory or Dromore which is being played tomorrow.

[illdecide]

I wouldn't be too surprised if Clann Eireann were to win it or get to the final, they're a good side and a have had a right few playing minor this year too but i suppose they're all good or they wouldn't be in the competition...

[PMG1]

Dromore secured the Tyrone title today and will face Enniskillen next week in the preliminary round with the winners facing Bredagh.  The other quarter finals see Southern Gaels Cavan play O'Donovan Rossa Antrim, The Derry winners play Inniskeen Monaghan, and Clann Eireann Armagh play St. Eunans Donegal

[mylestheslasher]

So we get half of Cavan. Tough draw.

I know and poor southern gaels get the representatives of the second most populous county in Ireland.

[PMG1]

The Paul McGirr U16 Club Champions Tournament kicks off in style this weekend with the preliminary round derby fixture between Fermanagh champions Enniskillen Gaels and newly crowned Tyrone champions Dromore who defeated Loughmacrory last weekend after a replay.  It was Dromore's first title at this level since 1998 and the win has provided them with a chance to represent their club and county at Ulster level for the first time on their home pitch.  It will be a massive occasion for the host club and according to joint manager Joe Rafferty it is an occasion which they are certainly looking forward to "Having had a huge involvement in the tournament myself over the last few years and having watched it grow into what is probably the premier youth football tournament in the country it has always been a dream to watch my own club taking part.  It will be a memorable occasion not only for the team but for the entire club and parish and I have no doubt there will be a huge Dromore support there to cheer the boys on.  While traditionally Tyrone teams have not done well in the competition we certainly hope to give it a good shot this year, while we have struggled with serious injuries to key players thoughout the season all came good for us in the end and our performance against Loughmacrory in the championship final replay last Saturday will certainly give the boys a huge boost coming into this game.  We have a strong spine with Ruairi Teague, Mark McGread and Caolan Slevin at the back and a good midfield partnership in Cahir Goodwin and Nathan McCarron.  Caolan McCarron,  Oran Sludden and John MacRory  have been the scorers in chief but the return of Odhran Rafferty after long term injury has proven to be a big boost in the last few weeks.  However, we are under no illusions as to the task ahead of us in Ulster and the way in which Enniskillen demolished Ederney in the county final a few weeks ago shows the enormity of the task ahead of us.  It will be a proud day for the club and hopefully the Dromore boys can give the local fans something to cheer about".  Rafferty and his fellow management team of Niall McNulty, Brian McCarron and Conor O'Hara will be hoping to kick on from last weekend's Tyrone final win and secure a quarter final berth.

Enniskillen cruised to a 52 point win in the Fermanagh final and this is certainly one of the strongest underage team to emerge from the Erne county in recent years.  Managed by Niall Jones, James Reihill and Raymond Curran the Gaels game plan revolves a lot around the towering midfield duo of captain Eoin Beacom and hard working Patrick Cassidy , Gavin Greene is an attacking half back of note and the forward line features the promising John Reihill, Ronan Beattie and Conor Love who top scored in their county final.  This local derby promises to be a tight affair and one that is very hard to call, the game throws in at 2:30 in Gardrum Park this Saturday and all proceeds from the gate go the The Spirit Of Paul McGirr Trust.

[vallankumous]

So we get half of Cavan. Tough draw.

Yeah but it's the Hurling stronghold and mostly water.

[PMG1]

Dromore 1-14 Enniskillen Gaels 2-07

Dromore and Enniskillen got the Paul Mc Girr tournament up and running on Saturday afternoon in front of a large and appreciative crowd at Gardrum Park. Played in splendid conditions the teams served up an exciting game that swung one way and then the other before the Tyrone champions eventually sealed the win 1-14 to 2-7.  Playing with the aid of a strong breeze Enniskillen opened the scoring on two minutes with a free from Ronan Beattie but Dromore began to dominate the midfield exchanges and with Cahir Goodwin and Mark Mc Grade in outstanding form they were soon 0-4 to 0-1 ahead. However Enniskillen reduced the gap to two with a brace of points from impressive full forward John Rehill.

The sides exchanged further points before an own goal put the Fermanagh men in front for the first time. Dromore recovered from that setback and scores from Mark Mc Grade and Caolan Mc Carron tied the scores with five minutes of the half remaining.

Enniskillen were growing in confidence and struck for a second goal following some fine creative play from their forwards. The ball eventually made its way to the edge of the Dromore square where Ronan Beattie applied the finishing touch to put his side 2-4 to 0-7 in front. Conor Love extended the lead with a nice point but back again came Dromore and late points from Cahir Goodwin and Nathan Mc Carron left only a point between the teams at the break.

Dromore's recent run of competitive games stood to them in the second half as they camped in their opponents' half for most of the third quarter. An opportunist goal from John Mac Rory followed by two points from the boot of Oran Sludden put the blues in a strong position as the game entered the final quarter. Enniskillen eventually awoke from their slumbers but found the Dromore defence a tough nut to crack. Caolan Slevin, Ruairi Teague and Padraig Quinn worked very hard to deny the Fermanagh side time on the ball. Enniskillen did reduce the gap to a single point with thirteen minutes left but it was the Tyrone side that finished strongest with points from Mark Mc Grade, Caolan Mc Carron and Pearse Mc Nabb sealing a 1-14 to 2-7 win.

[PMG1]

Magherafelt O'Donovan Rossa v Inniskeen

The first quarter final of the Paul McGirr U16 Club Champions Tournament takes place this Saturday morning with an intriguing tie between Derry champions Magherafelt O'Donovan Rossa and Monaghan's Inniskeen Grattans.  Magherafelt are being tipped by many as the pre tournament favourites having emerged from a very strong Derry championship having defeated 2013 All Ireland Feile finalists Dungiven and an impressive Swatragh team who pushed them all the way in the county final.  As with most Magherafelt teams they are a physically imposing side who play a direct style of football with several of their players featuring strongly on the Derry U16 panel they will be highly confident of success.  According to O'Donovan Rossa Chairman Jarlath Conway the challenge is one which they are certainly looking forward to "Having overcome Dungiven, Limavady, Bellaghy and Swatragh the players, management and supporters of O'Donovan Rossa GAC, Magherafelt, are very excited about being involved in this competition in memory of Paul McGirr, especially as it has been 6 years since we last reached this stage.  We would like to take this opportunity to thank St Dympnas GAC for the fantastic work that they do in hosting this competition which is now in its 16th year, and also to wish all the other clubs involved in this competition the very best of luck".

It will be a momentus occasion for their opponents Inniskeen Grattans, who are entering the competition for the first time.  They will be coming in to the game as underdogs but this is a tag that they are well used to having overcame a very talented Carrickmacross team in the Monaghan final and manager Anthony Keenan feels that the occasion will not phase his team "The inniskeen grattans are looking forward to the tournament. It's the first time in our history winning the county u-16 Championship. There is a nice balance to the team with strong players on every line.  Seamus Kindlon (captain) at full back sets the platform while in midfield Andrew Woods and Ciaran McNulty are a match for anyone. In the forwards Aidan Woods and Pauric McGahon are a handful for any defence and we certainly feel that it will take a very strong team to overcome us".
The match throws in at 12:00 in Gardrum Park Dromore and it certainly seems to be a competitive fixture that will please a lot of the neutrals.  All proceeds from the tournament go to the Spirit Of Paul McGirr Trust for their work with the poor in Lusaka, Kenya.