Sunday 9th November
The semi-finals of the under-21A football championship scheduled for Sunday brings together teams from the South and South West as Kickham’s travel to Milltown to meet St Gall’s while Aghagallon play hosts to St Brigid’s at Pairc Na Gael.
St Gall’s v Kickham’s Creggan (12.00)
St Gall’s have impressed on their way to this semi-final with wins over St John’s in their opening game at Corrigan Park and last week’s win over St. Paul’s in the quarter-final. St. Gall’s had home advantage for the St. Paul’s game and recorded a very impressive 2-21 to 0-07 win over the Shaw’s Road side.
Paul Austin was prominent in that win, kicking nine points over the hour and with Manus Smith and Niall Fallon busy in front of the opposition posts Galls were good value for their 20 point victory and served notice they were ambitious of securing their title.
Kickham’s have also impressed in their way to Sunday’s semi-final with Shea McCann in top form and Conor Johnston, Fintan Close and Fintan Kelly all hoping to make their mark on proceedings.
Creggan travelled to All Saints in their opening game and were good value for their 3-7 to 0-7 win but were regarded as outsiders when they entertained Dunloy in the quarter-finals on Monday night.
St Gall’s with ground advantage, will start this one as firm favourites but Kickham’s have shown great fighting spirit and a lot of ability in their two games to date.
Despite a slow start against Dunloy where they trailed for much of the opening half despite having the brisk breeze behind them, they struck with two late goals to lead at the break.
A couple of early points seemed to have put Dunloy back in control but Creggan were not to lose heart with Conor Johnston and Shea McCann leading the way and it was the latter’s late point which saw them run out winners by five points.
The Kickham’s will travel as outsiders but Fintan Close, Shea McCann and Fintan Kelly have the ability to swing it in favour of the South West side but St. Gall’s look favourites to progress.
St Mary’s Aghagallon v St Brigid’s
St Brigid’s enjoyed a clear path to the quarter final stage as Moneyglass withdrew from the competition due to their Ulster Intermediate game against Glenullin.
The South Antrim side faced a difficult draw in the quarter-finals when they were drawn away to Erins Own Cargin and looked in trouble when they trailed 3-05 to 0-04 at the short whistle, despite playing with the wind in the first half.
They came strong in the second half however as the home side failed to replicate their excellent first period performance to run out impressive 4-9 to 3-8 and this win will give them a lot of confidence as they make the trip to Aghagallon.
Niall Duffy with a couple of goals and another from Ruairi McErlean saw them nip ahead and as the home side struggled to regain confidence a penalty conversion by Issac Robinson in the last minute proved decisive.
St Mary’s did not enjoy a great 2025 season at senior level but the performance of their under-21 team at Kelly Park and Hightown suggests better times ahead.
They recorded an excellent 5-21 to 0-0-16 win over Casement’s and followed that up with win over a lively St Enda’s side to earn their place in the last four of the competition.
Aghagallon face what looks like3 their stiffest test to as St Brigid’s visit Pairc na Gael but it is a test they look capable of overcoming and although St Brigid’s will start this one as favourites the St Mary’s side may well gain the day.
U21B Semi-Finals
In the U21B semi-finals Tir na nOg travel to Enright Park to take on Gort na Mona while Rossa entertain neighbours Sarsfields.
The Gorts had a good win over Glenavy in their quarter-final at Sunday’s venue while Tir na nOg recorded a facile victory over visitors Ardoyne.
This one could be much closer but home advantage could swing it Gort na Mona’s way.
Sarsfield’s defeated St. Mary’s Rasharkin in Dreen in an entertaining quarter-final while Rossa recorded a ‘walk-over’ against Lamh Dhearg so they are an unknown quantity.
That run out last week at Dreen will have benefited Sarsfields and they get a tentative nod to advance to the final.