Paul McGirr u16 Championship

[Any craic]

Video: See Burren's winning goal today...
http://jeromequinnmedia.com/video/Paul-McGirr/Burren/Burren-Goal--1364

[BennyHarp]

Video: See Burren's winning goal today...
http://jeromequinnmedia.com/video/Paul-McGirr/Burren/Burren-Goal--1364

Must be a fairly high standard competition this year. Not too many expecting Dungiven to get beaten today.

[Any craic]

Video: See St Michael's from Donegal beat Carrickmore in the Ulster U-16 QFs today in Dromore http://jeromequinnmedia.com/video/Paul-McGirr/Donegal/St-Michaels-Donegal-beat-Carrickmore-1365

[DERRYSFINEST]

Great game today, 2 super teams. Cant see Burren beat now.

[PMG1]

Second game today was as good a game as you would wish to see, 15 against 15, no sweepers, positive football, some wonderful scores, some brilliant saves, I think Burren were deserving winners but it was a wonderful advert for underage football.  Another big one tomorow at 3:00 with Crosserlough taking on Antrim champions St. Brigids with the winner taking on St. Michaels of Donegal who defeated Carrickmore today.

[Any craic]

Video: See Antrim champions St Brigid's winning penalty in today's Ulster U-16 QF vs Crosserlough in Dromore.. http://jeromequinnmedia.com/video/Paul-McGirr/Crosslerlough/Goal-for-St-Brigids-1367

[PMG1]

St. Michaels 0-13 v Carrickmore 0-07

A triumphant St. Michaels of Dunfanaghy progressed to the semi-final of the Paul McGirr Ulster U16 Club Champions Tournament when a dominant second half performance seen them overcome the challenge of a leg weary Carrickmore who were playing for the sixth week in a row.  Things looked good for the Tyrone men in the first half with James McGurk dominant at the back and Conor Loughran looking dangerous in midfield but they were unable to sustain their performance as St. Michaels and man of the match Ciaran McGinley in particularly took a grip on proceedings.  Two superb long range scores from Loughran and a Ciaran Daly free following a foul on Loughran put Carrickmore three ahead early on and but for some wayward passing and shooting they would have been much further ahead.    It took St. Michaels twenty minutes to record their first score which was a left footed point from full forward Odhran McFadden, the first of six scores from him.  Two points from McGinley, one from the outside of the boot and one from Daly left Carrickmore 0-4 to 0-3 ahead at half time. 

But this was as good as it got for them as St Michaels emerged for the second half in much more determined mood and immediately stamped their authority on proceedings with two McFadden frees and one from play from Shane Lagan.   Carrickmore levelled matters with another Daly score and one from Ciaran Cuddy before six unanswered points from St. Michaels ended the game as a contest, two from McGinley, three from McFadden and one from raiding wing back Ruairi Friel. Cuddy finally recorded a Carrickmore reply but Lee McColgan ended the game in style with a brilliant effort from fifty yards as St. Michaels became the first Donegal side in a number of years to reach the semi-final.

St. Michaels:  Dean Mc Colgan, Aidan Mc Fadden, Jamie Hunter (Capt), Tony Toye, Hugh O'Donnell,Caolan Toye, Ruairi Friel (0-1), Ciaran McGinley (0-4 2f), Colin Mc Fadden, Charles Roarty, Shane Langan (0-1), Eoghan Kelly, Lee Mc Colgan (0-1), Odhran McFadden (0-6 4f), Liam Kelly

Carrickmore:  Enda Hughes, Aidan McCallan, Lochrann O'Donnell, Pauric Mullan, Jude Glackin, James McGurk, Oran McKee, Dearcan O'Donnell, Conor Loughran (0-2), Dara Casey, Ciaran Daly (Capt) (0-3 1f), Tiernan Murray, Paddy McElduff, Jarlath Kerr, Ciaran Cuddy (0-2)
Subs:  Conor Kelly for McCallan, Cormac Munroe for Casey

[Any craic]

Video: See highlights from St Brigid's 2-11 Crosserlough 2-9 today in the Paul McGirr Ulster U-16s http://jeromequinnmedia.com/video/Paul-McGirr/St-Brigids/Match-Highlights---St-Brigids-2-11-Crosserlough-2-9-1368

[PMG1]

Burren 2-13 v Dungiven 3-07
A large crowd in Gardrum Park in Dromore on Saturday were treated to one of the best underage games of football witnessed in the province in many years as Burren upset the odds to defeat a highly rated and previously unbeaten Dungiven side to become the first team to reach this years Paul McGirr Ulster U16 Club Champions Tournament final.  It was a victory they thoroughly deserved with a superb display of skill and determination seeing them over the line in a tense finale and they will enter the final as strong favourites having emerged from what seemingly was the strongest side of the draw.  From the early stages of the game it was clear that Burren were not going to be in awe of their opponents as their defence brilliantly marshalled by man of the match and team captain Conor Cox smothered their opponents, Liam Kerr in midfield continuously penetrating the Dungiven rearguard with defence splitting runs and full forward Declan Murdock displaying unerring accuracy in a game where he finished with an eight point tally to his name.  Early scores from Murdock, Kerr and one in reply from Dungiven wing back Pauric McNicholl were an sign of the quality of the fare that was to be in store for the large attendance.  Dungiven keeper Patrick Murphy displayed tremendous bravery to pull off a great save to deny Thomas Travers but unfortunately he suffered a bad concussion and had to be replaced by Niall McNicholl.  Four points in a row from Murdock, Kerr and wing forward Ronan Fegan gave Burren a five point lead and this really shook the pre-game favourites into action with their management springing the talented Fergal Higgins from the bench, but even Higgins was struggling to make an impression against the masterful Cox.  Two points from Conor Kelly and midfielder Seamus Higgins reduced the deficit before Conor McCartan got the first of his two goals fot Burren with a tidy finish to the bottom corner.  As the action really began to heat up, the intensity of the game was upped another notch as Kelly added two more to his tally and Murdock got one in reply for Burren.  Just before half time the pendulum swung in the Derry boys favour when Conor McCartney hit the back of the net, fisting home a quickly taken 13 metre free and then immediately on the resumption it was McCartney again with his second goal, getting a flick to a long ball to put Dungiven into the lead for the first time, when Richard Mullan added a point it really looked like Dungiven were going to take control.
Sub keeper McNicholl pulled off a great point blank save to deny substitute Sean O'Connoer a goal with his first touch but Burren for whom Thomas Travers was winning a mountain of possession rattled off 1-06 without response to put themselves into a commanding lead, three from Murdock and McCartan with his second goal much to the delight of the large Burren contingent.  However, Dungiven were never going to give up without a fight and a goal and point from Fergal Higgins cut the lead back to two with time running out.  The eighth point for Murdock provided a bit of security for Burren but as Dungiven went in search of an equalising goal captain Conor Cox was the man on the spot to deny them and secure a memorable victory.  While understandably disappointed with losing out on a final place, Dungiven can console themselves with the fact they were part of a magnificent game of football, Burren meanwhile will be anxiously awaiting their opponents in the 23rd November final.
Burren:  Jack Brady, Shea Fitzpatrick, Conor Cox (Capt), Shane O'Hare, Ardan McAvoy, Peter Fagan, Darragh Murdock, Liam Kerr (0-2), Aidan Fitzpartrick, Ronan Fegan (0-1), Shea Murdock (0-1), Ciaran McAdam, Thomas Travers, Declan Murdock (0-8 5f), Conor McCartan (2-0)
Subs: Sean O'Connor (0-1) for McAdam
Dungiven:  Patrick Murphy, Fergal O'Kane, Niall Smyth, Shane McNicholl, Pauric McNicholl (Capt) (0-1), Odhran McKeever, Sean Quinn, Seamus Higgins (0-1 1f), Mark Cassidy, Conan Feeney, John Mullan, Kevin Quinn, Richard Mullan (0-1), Conor Kelly (0-3 1f), Cormac McCartney (2-0)
Subs:  Niall McNicholl for Murphy (inj), Fergal Higgins (1-1) for S McNicholl, Ronan Mullan for Quinn

[orangeman]

Burren must have some side. Dungiven team was a serious team.

[Club Rossa]

Burren seem to be putting a serious amount of effort into their youth.They have picked up a lot of titles the last couple of years.

[PMG1]

St. Brigids 2-11 v Crosserlough 2-9
Antrim champions St. Brigids making their first appearance in the Paul McGirr Ulster U16 Club Champions Tournament were two point winners in this intriguing quarter final and now progress to face St. Michaels next Saturday in the semi final.  Although perhaps the slightly better team on the day, St. Brigids will have to make improvements defensively if they are to progress further in the tournament as Crosserlough on numerous occasions cut them open only to show a lack of composure in the final third.  The imposing Finnegan twins dominated midfield for St. Brigids providing a constant supply of long direct ball into their talented forward line, where man of the match Peter Webb in particular shone.  Two scores from James Smith and one from Peter Lavery gave St. Brigids an early lead but Crosserlough were on top at this stage and will look back on the numerous easy chances they missed.  Jamie Smith finally got their scoring underway after fifteen minutes but St. Brigids held a 0-4 to 0-3 lead when the first goal of the game arrived, Ethan Carleton converting the rebound after Anthony Smith had saved superbly from Peter Lavery.  Points from Crosserlough's James and Jamie Smith were cancelled out by two from St. Brigids Webb and Smith to leave the half time score 1-06 to 0-05.
Shane McVeety opened the second half scoring for Crosserlough before Webb and Lavery replied.  Then the game turned in the Cavan boys favour when two goals put them into the lead for the first time, one a scrambled effort from James Smith and the other a well finished effort from McVeety.  St. Brigids went back in front with points from James Smith and Webb who's influence was growing in the game tirelessly working across the half forward line winning and intelligently using possession.   Two superb efforts from Darren Galligan put Crosserlough back in front as the game entered the final few minutes.  But cometh the hour, cometh the man with Webb yet again taking centre stage instigating a move which resulted in a penalty which he converted expertly to the bottom right hand corner and immediately after winning and converting a forty yard free.  As Crosserlough sought the goal they needed in injury time an effort from substitute Patrick Lynch went over the bar leaving a relieved St. Brigids through to the semi-final where they will face Donegal champions St. Michaels next Saturday.
St. Brigids:  Ruairi Lynch, Frank McCormick, Paul Stoors, Oran Boyle, Daire McGarvey, Brogan Austin, Gerard Kervick, Joseph Finnegan (capt), Patrick Finnegan, Peter Webb, John Blayney, Phelim Lennon, Peter Lavery, James Smith, Ethan Carleton
Subs: Mattie Loan for Austin
Crosserlough:  Anthony Smith, Gavin Brady, Patrick O'Reilly, Connor Byrd, Brogan Kotze, Connor Reihill (capt), Eddie Devereaux Gilsennan, Owen Smith, Thomas Keaney, Shane McVeety  (1-1 1f), Stephen Smith (0-1), James Smith (1-1), Jamie Smith (0-2), Darren Galligan (0-2), Sean Briody (0-1)
Subs: Connor Lee for Byrd, Peter Smith for Briody, Patrick Lynch (0-1) for Brady

[PMG1]

Burren seem to be putting a serious amount of effort into their youth.They have picked up a lot of titles the last couple of years.

Having won the Grade 2 All Ireland Feile title last year, it looks like Burren will take some stopping next year also.  A very talented well balanced outfit whos defenders are touch tight at all time.  I must say it is really refreshing to see the football that is played in this tournament, generally 6 forwards against 6 defenders with no sweepers employed, teams playing with freedom resulting in open high scoring games.   

[tyroneman]

Burren seem to be putting a serious amount of effort into their youth.They have picked up a lot of titles the last couple of years.

Having won the Grade 2 All Ireland Feile title last year, it looks like Burren will take some stopping next year also.  A very talented well balanced outfit whos defenders are touch tight at all time.  I must say it is really refreshing to see the football that is played in this tournament, generally 6 forwards against 6 defenders with no sweepers employed, teams playing with freedom resulting in open high scoring games.

A good team alright but very lucky to get past Clann Eireann by a point in the first instance.

[Any craic]

Video Report with interviews from Burren 2-13 Dungiven 3-7. The Paddy O'Rourke referred to is of course the 1991 All Ireland winning captain and the goalkeeper who makes the first point-blank save had to go off as it the impact nearly broke his nose.. http://jeromequinnmedia.com/video/Paul-McGirr/Burren/Best-game-in-15-years---1370