Casements Portglenone and St. Paul’s with the Casement’s starting as favourites by virtue of their big win over St. Brigid’s in the semi-Final.
That one brought together the U16A finalists of two years ago when St. Brigid’s pushed the Kelly Park side all the way before the Bannsider’s emerged as winners.
The U18 semi-final at Musgrave Park had no element of doubt attached and from early on Portglenone took control, led by Odhran Doherty and Tom Duffin before running out convincing 3-27 to 2-4 winners to put themselves firmly in the favourites roll on Friday night.
They will face a strong opponent however in St. Paul’s with the Shaw’s Road side defeating St. John’s and Moneyglass on their way to Friday night’s decider and the fact that they recorded 0-18 against a descent St. Ergnat’s on their own ground suggests that they will not be there just to fulfil the fixture.
Minor B Football Final – Dunsilly 2-00pm Saturday
Sarsfields v St. James Aldergrove.
Sarsfield’s have impressed in this year’s Minor B championship and recorded a number of excellent wins on the way to Saturday’s decider with an away win to St. Gall’s in the quarter-final.
They continued to impress with a semi-final win over Glenavy at the bear Pit, hitting 3-20 against the Chapel Hill side and will be hoping to emulate the feat of their Senior Hurlers who took this year’s Junior Hurling title.
Standing in their way will be St. James Aldergrove with the Crumlin side accounting for St Mary’s Aghagallon and Tir na nOg on their way to Saturday’s decider.
Aldergrove are always strong at Juvenile level but they will need to be at their best to beat a Sarsfield’s side who have been impressive this season.
Minor C Football Final – Saturday 2-00pm – St. Teresa’s
Kickham’s Ardoyne v Naomh Comhghall
The third of the Minor Football grade final are down for decision when Kickham’s Ardoyne face Naomh Comhghall, Antrim at the home of Gort na Mona, PairscMhic Ionnrachtaigh in the Minor C Final.
Both sides have recorded impressive wins in this year’s journey to Saturday’s final with Naomh Comhghall getting their campaign underway with a big 8-16 to 1-8 win over Davitt’s.
They carried that form into the quarter-final with another high scoring win away to St. Teresa’s before overcoming Naomh Eanna in a closely contested quarter-final.
On the other side of the draw Kicham’s edged out St. Brigid’s in the quarter-final at Hightown before beating Lamh Dhearg in a high scoring semi-final at the Cricky .
Ardoyne hit 6-10 in that one and both side have shown that they have an eye for goals and Saturday’s decider could be a real cracker with Naomh Comhghall just edging it but it could go either way.