Antrim U20A Football Championship Final
St. Gall’s v Con Magee’s
Davitt’s Park 2.00pm
Referee: Eamon McAuley
The Antrim U20 A championship final is scheduled for Davitt’s Park tomorrow with the two form teams in the competition locking horns in what promises to be an interesting final.
The competition has been dogged throughout with postponements and the general feeling is that it was fixed at the wrong time of the year and it is something that the relevant body is likely to take a look at for next season.
Despite those postponements the competition did go ahead and tomorrow’s finalist, St. Gall’s and Glenravel have embraced it whole heartedly and no matter how it goes tomorrow both clubs are sure to have benefited from the competition.
St. Gall’s are likely to start as favourites tomorrow by virtue of their wins over Cargin in Toome in the opening day and against St. Brigid’s at Milltown. Cargin and St. Brigid’s contested the Minor final two years ago with the Toome side winning that final and they were favourites going into this year’s U20 championship
Barra McCaffery
In a game played with real championship fervour it was the home side who led 0-7 to 0-6 at the break but that was to change shortly into the second half.
Niall Burns grabbed a superb 36th minute goal to see the Milltown Blues hit the front with Paudie McLaughlin replying almost immediately with a goal at the other end for Cargin.
At this stage it looked anybody’s game but the home side were reduced in number when mid fielder Benen Kelly was shown red at the end of the third quarter and shortly after the impressive Niall Burns got in for the visitors second goal.
St. Gall’s had certainly seized the initiative and they went on to add a further three goals as their busy corner forward Niall Fallon added a couple with Dara Delaney adding the third to put the game out of reach of the home side.
St. Gall’s took another step in the direction of the U20 FC title when they defeated Naomh Bríd at Milltown. The home side looked home and dry at the halfway stage when they led 1-8 to 0-2 at half time as they controlled the opening half but Naomh Bríd showed considerable improvement after the break without ever looking like getting anything from the game.
They matched St. Gall’s score for score in the third quarter with the difference between the sides still nine going into the final quarter and the visitors kept going to the end despite the inevitable outcome.
Naomh Brid outscored St. Gall’s 0-5 to 0-2 during the closing quarter but by that stage the damage had already been done and the Milltown Row side moved top of Group1 with three wins from three starts.
St. Gall’s completed their programme unbeaten with wins over All Saints and Aldergrove and will go into tomorrow’s final full of confidence. Aidan OMaolin in goals, Dultach Johnston, Conor Reagan, Niall Burns, Niall Fallon, Conal McCabe and Barry McCaffery are all top performers with Burns and McCaffery in particular a serious threat in attack.
It’s been a while since the Milltown side saw any action in the competition while Sunday’s opponents, Glenravel played their final game in Group 2 more recently and have been very impressive as they have moved through their group unbeaten.
Con Magees Glenravel qualified for the final of the U20 football Championship when they beat Creggan in their final round robin game in Creggan.
Sean McKay, Glenravel 
Niall Burns, St. Gall’s
Their ability to score goals at vital times throughout the game gave the Glenravel side the edge and they led by 2-2 to 0-4 at half time, the major scores coming from Callum Higgins and Ryan McQuillan.
Eoin Hynds made his mark in the second quarter with two goals, the second coming just before the half time whistle to give his team a 4-4 to 0-6 lead at the break. A Sean McKay goal early in the second half stretched the Con Magees lead, but Creggan hit back with one from Dominic McAteer. However Glenravel maintained the upper hand and a second goal from Ryan McQuillan sealed their place in tomorrow’s final.
Wins over Tir na nOg earlier in the competition in Glenravel by 2-9 to 1-7 and a Sean McKay hat-trick at the same venue helped Con Magees Glenravel to a narrow victory over St Enda’s. and the Glenravel men have been able to come up with goals throughout this year’s competition.
Goals have played an important part in the Con Magee’s run to Saturday’s final with McKay leading the way and the Glenravel men will be hoping to add further majors as they attempt to overcome the challenge of St. Gall’s.
Callum Higgins, Ryan McQuillan, Rian Lenon with Cathal and Eoin Hynds and Sean McKay are the men who can swing this one Glenravel’s way against a St. Gall’s side who will start as favourites but will need to be at their best to overcome the Glen’s men.