Portglenone face Four Masters as fonaCAB St Pauls Ulster Minor Tournament in launched

By Kevin Herron

PORTGLENONE avoided the Prelim but will take on 2024 winners Four Masters in the quarter final of the fonaCAB St Pauls Ulster Minor Tournament.

Eight of the nine known participants gathered on the Shaws Road on Saturday afternoon for the launch of the 2026 series, with a lengthy appeals process holding up the Armagh Championship.

As fate would have it the Prelim clash will be between the Armagh representatives and Fermanagh winners Newtonbutler.

Back-to-back Antrim winners Portglenone were drawn out to play Ardboe in the Prelim clash in 2025 but this year the Bannsiders will progress to the last eight where they met Donegal kingpins Four Masters.

Tom Duffin of Portglenone with Four Masters captain Jack McGroarty at Saturdays launch of the fonaCAB St Paul’s Ulster Minor Tournament

Thwarted in their bid to bring the Jimmy McConville Cup back to Donegal for the third year in a row 12-months ago, they will make the familiar trek to West Belfast with renewed vigour.

Elsewhere there is a local derby as Monaghan champions Aughnamullen will face Denn from Cavan in the last eight.

Tyrone winners Eglish will take on Newry Shamrocks and 2019 winners Lavey will face the winners of the Prelim clash in the quarter finals.

The dates of the fixtures are to be confirmed after consultation with Ulster Schools GAA but will be confirmed in due course.