The dates and times for this year’s St Paul’s Minor Football Championship has been confirmed. The tournament, which was initiated away back in 1982 has certainly caught the imagination of the football fraternity all over the province with Derry clubs most successful thus far.

Wolfe Tones Bellaghy raised the Jim Mc Conville aloft last year for the fourth occasion to draw abreast with Glen Maghera having claimed four titles apiece.

Erin’s Own Lavey will represent Derry in this year’s competition, and will line out against Cavan representatives Drumloman in the opening round.

Antrim will be represented by Erin’s Own Cargin who have drawn Fermanagh champions Enniskillen Gaels in the first round with Down kingpins Kilcoo to face Red Hand representatives Killyclogher and the Farney representatives Emyvale to meet the winners of the preliminary round game involving Armagh side Silverbridge and Termon from Donegal.

The action gets under way on Saturday 7th December at St Paul’s at 1pm when Kilcoo of Down take on Tyrone champions Killyclogher in the first of the quarter finals while later that day at 3pm at Coláiste Feirste Silverbridge Harps of Armagh play Termon of Donegal in the prelimiary round of the competition.

The following weekend Derry champions Lavey play Drumlman Gaels of Cavan under the lights at Coláiste Feirste at 4pm while on Sunday 15th Antrim champions Cargin take on Enniskillen Gaels of Fermanagh at St Paul’s at 1pm.

The semis take place on either side of Christmas Day while the final has its usual New Year’s Day slot at 1pm

The draw is as follows:

(Preliminary round)

Saturday 7th Dec – 3pm at Coláiste Feirste

Silverbridge Harps (Armagh) v Termon (Donegal)

(Quarter Finals)

Sat 7th Dec – 12 noon at St Paul’s

Kilcoo (Down) v St Marys Killyclogher (Tyrone)

Sat 14th Dec – 4pm at Coláiste Feirste

Erin’s Own Lavey (Derry) v Drumloman Gaels (Cavan)

Sunday 15th Dec – 1pm at St Paul’s

Enniskillen Gaels (Fermanagh) v Erin’s Own Cargin (Antrim)

Sunday 15th Dec – 4pm at Coláiste Feirste

Emyvale (Monaghan) v Preliminary winners

The semi-finals will be played on Sunday December 22nd and Thursday 26th December (Boxing Day) with the final again fixed for New Years Day, with all three played at St Paul’s