Ulster U20 and Minor Championships 2025

[Goals_Will_Come]

Donegal giving Tyrone a decent game

A lot of talk about Tyrone and Derry but Donegal are a serious side too.

McElholm away on the Senior training holiday instead of playing tonight??

Yeah very big loss for such a stupid reason. If he was being released back to Under 20s surely he should have been staying with the Under 20s.

[tiempo]

How is U20/Senior eligibility worked currently

Can play Senior but then becomes ineligible for U20s?

So if McElhlom plays against Cavan his U20 season is over?

[J70]

I was wondering if Roarty would be lining out for Donegal U-20s now that the league is over, but looks like Jim has plans for him in the senior championship.

[Blowitupref]

U20 results tonight

Armagh 3-16 Monaghan 2-14
Cavan 2-13 Derry 1-26
Tyrone 2-24 Antrim 0-10

[SouthOfThe Bann]

We might poke fun at Derrys demise at senior level but what the he'll are they doing at underage level absolute conveyor belt of top class teams. Big win again tonight.

[Easttyrone23]

We might poke fun at Derrys demise at senior level but what the he'll are they doing at underage level absolute conveyor belt of top class teams. Big win again tonight.

Derry have to be one of the most successful counties in Ireland in recent times at underage and school level. But it must be head scratching for Derry folk why that can't seem to carry into the senior team. Especially when you look at other Ulster counties like Donegal, Armagh and Monaghan who haven't been as successful at underage level but more successful at senior.

[lenny]

We might poke fun at Derrys demise at senior level but what the he'll are they doing at underage level absolute conveyor belt of top class teams. Big win again tonight.

Derry have to be one of the most successful counties in Ireland in recent times at underage and school level. But it must be head scratching for Derry folk why that can't seem to carry into the senior team. Especially when you look at other Ulster counties like Donegal, Armagh and Monaghan who haven't been as successful at underage level but more successful at senior.

That success at minor level is only very recent. It's not too long ago we went about 12 seasons without winning a match at minor level.

[Easttyrone23]

We might poke fun at Derrys demise at senior level but what the he'll are they doing at underage level absolute conveyor belt of top class teams. Big win again tonight.

Derry have to be one of the most successful counties in Ireland in recent times at underage and school level. But it must be head scratching for Derry folk why that can't seem to carry into the senior team. Especially when you look at other Ulster counties like Donegal, Armagh and Monaghan who haven't been as successful at underage level but more successful at senior.

That success at minor level is only very recent. It's not too long ago we went about 12 seasons without winning a match at minor level.

I know their all Ireland minor titles have been fairly recent but have won 3 of the last 5. They've won 5 of the last 10 Ulster minor championships and Derry schools have won 7 of the last 12 mac Rory cups. When you also take into account their successful club teams during that period it surely asks the question.

[GTP]

We might poke fun at Derrys demise at senior level but what the he'll are they doing at underage level absolute conveyor belt of top class teams. Big win again tonight.

Derry have to be one of the most successful counties in Ireland in recent times at underage and school level. But it must be head scratching for Derry folk why that can't seem to carry into the senior team. Especially when you look at other Ulster counties like Donegal, Armagh and Monaghan who haven't been as successful at underage level but more successful at senior.

Derry have won 2 of 4 (including 2025 which we can't win) Ulster Championships and a National Football League.
Armagh haven't won Ulster since 2008, and Monaghan since 2015.
Armagh have the All-Ireland, Donegal have an Ulster Championship in the same timeframe.
Armagh fans would I imagine take their All Ireland ahead of all Derry's wins and Donegal fans are certainly more optimistic of the future.
But between the three counties you mention Derry could be considered the most successful over the recent period so I am not sure it makes your argument that underage success "can't seem to carry into the senior team".

[Wildweasel74]

Nope, the All-Ireland win for Armagh, be the big boys on the block.

[SouthOfThe Bann]

South Derry surely the strongest football area in the country?

[tbrick18]

I think it doesn't always follow that underage success results in automatic progression to the senior ranks.
Physique becomes more of an issue, for example, and where smaller players at minor can still make hay, it's not as easy when transitioning to senior.
Generally, I think if you get 3-4 players from a successful minor/u20 team feeding into the senior panel that would be the norm across the board for all counties.
All we have at the minute is recent under age success providing players with the potential to make it to county senior. It remains to be seen how many will make the step up, but you can't really rush the process unless there is an exceptional talent with the physicality to step up.

Similar with successful clubs - Slaughtneil at their peak provided Rogers, McGuigan, Cassidy and McKaigue.
Magherafelt recent county winners provided Lynch and McCloskey.
Glen and their AI exploits - Ethan Doherty, Glass, McFaul.
Newbridge - McGrogan
I'm probably missing a few players there but a successful club team will have 2-3 county standard players.

[Blowitupref]

[bennydorano]

Was at Armagh match last night, lost CHB & a MFer to injury by HT but looked to click in the 2nd when the circumstances had forced them into action. The fact it was do or die no doubt helped. Young O'Rourke was dynamite in the HB line. Couple of tasty forwards in McGeough and Duffy at 11 was vg as well I thought. Solid improvement in performance but you'd imagine Tyrone will be too hot.

[tbrick18]

Is the semi-final pairing decided by a draw from quarter finalist winners or are they already decided?