Ulster Minor Football Club Championship 2011 (at Saint Pauls)

[drici]

09-10-11
Monaghan Minor Football Championship Final
Clontibret O'Neills v Truagh Gaels
1-45pm   Inniskeen

http://www.monaghangaa.ie/clubs/l-t/truagh/
Clontibret will attempt to win back-to-back Maguire Transport Minor Football Championship Division One titles when they take on Truagh in today's curtain-raiser.

Clontibret beat Latton in last year's final to win the competition for the eighth time (the ninth including the 2005 success with Cremartin as St. Coleman's) and they have already won silverware this year via the Minor Football League Division One, where they eased to victory over Carrickmacross in the decider. Meanwhile, Truagh are aiming for their first ever success in this competition after making history by winning back-to-back MFL Division One titles in 2009 and 2010. Truagh ended Clontibret's double bid in the league final last year and they will be determined to repeat that trick today.

Both teams have been well tested in their runs to the final. Clontibret edged past Ballybay/Drumhowan amalgamation St. Patrick's by the narrowest of margins in the first round, thanks to a last-gasp point from Conor Lavelle, before getting the better of Scotstown by two points in the semi-finals. Meanwhile, Truagh have won both of their games so far by a single point, knocking out Carrickmacross and a fancied Castleblayney team. Clontibret had a four-point win at home in the teams' first MFL meeting of the year, but Truagh eased past an already-qualified O'Neills side in the final round.

Clontibret can call on four county minors in Conor Boyle, Conor Lavelle, Brian Greenan and Liam Savage, as well as Shane Hughes, Aodh Curran and Carl Foentjies. Clontibret's full-forward line could be the winning of the game for them, as 'twin towers' Lavelle and Hughes have hit 3-9 between them in two championship games. Truagh are not short on quality, with players of the ability of Pádraig and Christopher McKenna, Adam Treanor and Christopher Curran among their ranks. Those four players are likely to form the spine of the Truagh team, with Curran at centre-back, Pádraig and Christopher McKenna at midfield and centre-forward respectively and Treanor on the edge of the square.

This has the makings of a cracker, but Clontibret are more used to the big occasion and that should help them retain the Fergal O'Hanlon Cup.

Down Minor Football Championship Final
Kilcoo Owen Roes v Warrenpoint St Peters
2-00pm   Páirc Esler

[DownFanatic]

Down MFC Final
Kilcoo Owen Roes 1-12  Warrenpoint 0-10

Three MFC's in a row for Kilcoo. Unbelievable conveyor belt of talent in that club.

[drici]

Monaghan Minor Football Championship Final

Clontibret O'Neills 1-08  Truagh Gaels 2-08                           

Truagh made history in the curtain-raiser in Inniskeen on Sunday, when they won the MFC Division One title for the first time, beating defending champions Clontibret in the final. First-half goals by Christopher Curran and Christopher McKenna were the key scores for Truagh, who were fully deserving winners over the hour and could have won by more if they had taken any of the other goal chances that fell their way. Clontibret failed to hit the heights that saw them win the league recently, although much of that can be put down to Truagh's impressive work-rate all over the pitch.

Pádraig McKenna, who had an excellent game, helped Truagh edge the midfield battle, while Christopher McKenna, Adam Treanor and Christopher Curran shone in attack for the Gaels and Darragh McKenna and Fergal O'Neill dealt well with the threat of Conor Lavelle and Shane Hughes, despite giving up several inches in height. Aodh Curran, Conor Boyle and Lavelle gave it their all for Clontibret, but a tally of 11 wides hurt their chances of retaining the title.

Pádraig McKenna opened the scoring for Truagh when he tapped over a 13-metre free for a foul on Christopher McAnenly, but Shane Hughes brought Clontibret level after an Aodh Curran free dropped short. A Conor Lavelle point edged Clontibret ahead, but Truagh struck for the first goal on 11 minutes when Christopher Curran drilled in a low shot after taking a pass from Adam Treanor. Truagh had a couple of chances to add another goal, but Christopher McKenna drove a shot wide after he had made a good catch from a Christopher Curran pass and he slipped and lost possession two minutes later when Pádraig McKenna had put him through.

Lavelle linked up with Carl Foentjies to get a point back for Clontibret, but Adam Treanor restored Truagh's two-point lead before turning provider for another goal-chance for Christopher McKenna, who made no mistake this time with a clinical finish beyond Darren McDonald. Truagh continued to make goal chances and McDonald needed to be quick off his line to intercept a Christopher McKenna pass before it reached Niall Skinnader, but Clontibret got a boost when Shane Hughes was dragged down in the square by Mark McQuaid after he had raced onto a Conor Boyle pass.

Hughes got up to take the penalty, which he tucked past Truagh keeper Niall Rooney. Aodh Curran tapped over a 20-metre free for a foul on Dáire McKeown to make it a one-point game, but a well-taken score by Adam Treanor sent Truagh in at half-time with a 2-3 to 1-4 lead.

Treanor added the first point of the second half within 20 seconds of the restart, although Aodh Curran won and scored a 30-metre free to keep Clontibret in touch. The next three scores were all about Christopher McKenna, as he nailed a brace of well-struck '45s, either side of a 13-metre free for a foul on Christopher Curran. Only the upright denied McKenna a fourth successive point, with Adam Treanor going for goal from the rebound, only to be denied by a block from Liam Savage.

Lorcan Murphy ended 21 scoreless minutes for Clontibret with a point from play, but Pádraig McKenna landed a superb point from a 40-metre free off the outside of his boot, after a foul on Christopher McKenna, to leave Truagh five clear with four minutes to go. Clontibret sub Martin Moen got on the end of a high ball from Savage to get a point back going into injury-time, before Stephen Mohan blazed a goal-attempt over the bar, following a pass from Aodh Curran.

That brought the O'Neills to within three points, but there was no way through for the goal they needed and Truagh held on to complete a history-making win. Joint-captains Pádraig and Christopher McKenna lifted the Fergal O'Hanlon Cup, while Christopher also picked up the Man-of-the-Match award.

Truagh Gaels: N Rooney; F O'Neill, D McKenna, M McQuaid; D McGinn, J McAnenly, S Treanor; P McKenna (Joint-Capt., 0-2f), Patrick McMeel; C Curran (1-0), C McAnenly, N Skinnader; C McKenna (Joint-Capt., 1-3, 0-2 '45s, 0-1f), A Treanor (0-3), Paul McMeel.

Subs: C McAnespie for Skinnader (inj., 58 mins).

Clontibret O'Neills: D McDonald; G Brennan, L Savage, C Carragher; D Wilson, A Curran (0-2f), M P O'Dowd; C Boyle (Capt.), B Greenan; C Foentjies, L Murphy (0-1), D McKeown; S Mohan (0-1), C Lavelle (0-2), S Hughes (1-1, 1-0 pen).

Subs: D Duffy for Foentjies (51), M Moen (0-1) for McKeown (53), C Murphy for L Murphy (60).

Referee: P Caulfield (Blackhill).

[drici]

Kilcoo Owen Roes 1-12 Warrenpoint St Peters 0-10

KILCOO won their third Down Minor Football Championship Final in succession following a thrilling match against a determined Warrenpoint side at Pairc Esler on Sunday.

Going into this game the Magpies were firm favourites but the gritty Seasiders gave them one hell of a game and although Kilcoo had five points to spare at the final whistle, one would have to say that difference somewhat flatters them.
The Kilcoo manager Terry O'Hanlon agreed with this assessment as he told the Democrat: "We were up against a strong, well-organised Warrenpoint team here today.

"In fact they are the only team in the county that were capable of giving us a good game and they were in the match for a long time."

Warrenpoint manager Bernie Ruane was disappointed to lose but was pleased with the way his team had played, saying: "The boys couldn't have given more and I was really proud of them. We had three goal chances and didn't take them while they had one chance and took it. But having said that Kilcoo are a great team."

Bernie said his Warrenpoint side were playing in memory of former player, the late Paddy Dinsmore, who tragically died just over a year ago.

The Point began well with Jamie Grant pointing in the opening minute and a couple of minutes later they had a great goal opportunity but Stephen Monaghan blazed wide when one-on-one with the Kilcoo keeper Ciaran McEvoy.

The Magpies levelled on four minutes via Martin Devlin then it was tit-for-tat right to the interval with neither side able to create a two-point lead.
Jack Collins, Ciaran McCartan, Donnach McAleenan and Martin Devlin knocked over the bar for Warrenpoint in the first half while Martin Devlin (2), Ryan Mussen replied for Kilcoo.

Still the Seasiders had a slender, one-point advantage as the second period began and doubled that as Jamie Grant grabbed his second score of the match.
But then the champions eased up a gear with the excellent Darragh O'Hanlon knocking over the bar twice and hard-running Ryan Johnston and Martin Devlin also doing likewise.

And on 41 minutes the match was virtually over when Martin Devlin set up Aaron Morgan and the corner back poked into the Warrenpoint net as keeper Conor D'Arcy advanced.

In truth the blue and white-shirted Seasiders never for one second threw in the towel and kept the pressure on the Kilcoo defence.
McAleenan reduced the gap to four points and the impressive Ciaran McCartan was so unlucky as his goal-bound shot was blocked while Jamie Grant and Caolan McLoughlin suffered the same fate in front of the Kilcoo goal.

In the final 15 minutes both sides grabbed three points apiece, Warrenpoint's scores coming from Aaron Magee, Donnach McAleenan and Ryan Magee while Darragh O'Hanlon (2) and Ryan Johnston replied at the other end.

At the final whistle Kilcoo's joint skippers Darragh O'Hanlon and Ryan Johnston were delighted to receive the Collie Curran Cup from Down chairman Seamus Walsh with the two sons of the late Collie Curran, Jamie and Gary assisting in the presentation.

Warrenpoint: Conor D'Arcy, Jack Collins, Michael O'Hare, Ryan Magee, Stephen Monaghan, Conor Cole, Emmett McCourt, Ciaran McCartan, Caolan McLoughlin, Stephen O'Hare, James Murdock, Conor Austin, Mark McPolin, Jamie Grant and Donnach McAleenan with subs: Aaron Magee and Sean Gallagher.

Kilcoo: Ciaran McEvoy, Aaron Morgan, Daryl Branagan, Sean O'Hare, Laurence Devlin, Daithi O'Hanlon, Malachy Morgan, Nathan Smyth, Ryan Johnston, Ryan Mussen, Darragh O'Hanlon, Mark Rogan, Ryan Devlin, Martin Devlin and Aidan Fulcher with subs: Pearse Morgan.

[laceer]

Tyorne final is this Saturday in Galbally - Naomh Mhuire v Clonoe

[drici]

Dia Domhnaigh (16-10-11)
Armagh Minor Football Championship Final
Armagh Harps v Pearse Óg
2-00pm   The Athletic Grounds
Kevin McNeice

[drici]

Tyrone Minor Football Championship Final
Killyman 1-08 Clonoe 1-06

[laceer]

Tyrone Minor Football Championship Final
Killyman 1-08 Clonoe 1-06

It's Noamh Mhuire drici - an amalgamation of Killyman and Edendork

[Naomh pol]

Donegal final is on Sunday -

[Any craic]

See the Tyrone Final best bits on video here : http://tinyurl.com/5vrg2x6

[Beo]

Armagh Minor Football Championship Final
Harps 1-02  Ogs 0-09

Half Time

[Beo]

Harps 1-05  Ogs 0-10

15 minutes - 2nd Half

[Beo]

1-07  0-10

[Beo]

Harps 1-08   Ogs 0-10

[Beo]

3-08  0-10