The under-21 Football Champion returns on Sunday next in a competition which bridges the gap between adult and juvenile grade.
Twelve clubs have entered the competition set to commence on 26th October with those Clubs set to proceed on the Ulster trail possibly having to decide on participation.
The competition is set for four rounds to be completed with a 16th November decider.
The winners from the opening round will retain home advantage for their second round game with the semi-finals scheduled for the 9th November and the final set to take place the following weekend.
Round One (26th October)
All Saints v Kickham’s Creggan
Casement’s v Aghagallon
Cargin v St James Aldergerove
St John’s v St Gall’s
Con Magee’s Glenravel v Cuchullian’s Dunloy
St Ergnat’s Moneyglass v St Brigid’s
Round Two (2nd November)
C v F
E v A
D v St Paul’s
St Enda’s v B
Semi Finals (9th November)
Final (16th November)
PICS FROM THE 2024 FINAL IN WHICH ST GALL’S BEAT CON MAGEES GAELS
St Louis secured their place in the semi-finals of the Mageean Cup when they came from behind to beat St Killian’s College Garron Tower in Tuesday’s final round-robin game at Fr Maginn Park, Glenravel.
Fiontan Bradley was the man who did most of the damage for the Ballymena school, a hurler in a rich vein of form at the moment, as he showed many of the Ruairi Og team-mates what their opponents have been faced with during this season.
Garron Tower were the better team for most of the opening half, but, each time it looked that they were going to pull clear, St Louis hit them with goals.
Joe Casey’s early goal cancelled a good start from St Killian’s. But the St Killian’s boys hit back and by the end of the first quarter the led by 0-9 to 1-2, three of their scores coming from Oisin Gillan.
However Bradley was causing havoc each time he won the ball and in one of his forays upfield he cut in along the endline and found Caolán McCollum free to bat the ball home to an empty net, despite the protestations from the St Killian’s defenders.
A goal from Jay McAlonan’s just before the break saw the Ballymena boys go in at the break holding a 4-4 to 1-11 advantage.
Three Garron Tower points just after the re-start brought St Killian’s level and things looked promising but St Louis hit back with goals from Domhnall McKay and Fiontan Bradley to take control of the game. With a 6-6 to 1-14 advantage St Louis were not going to be caught and they saw out the rest of the game to win with a bit to spare,
Despite defeat St Killian’s are still in the competition and they will take on Gaelcholáiste Dhoire in the quarter final just after the Halloween holidays
St Louis: F Bradley 2-6, 0-2 fs, J McAlonan 1-3, 0-1 f, J Casey 1-2, C McCollum and D McKay 1-0 each.
St Killian’s: C McCambridge 1-1, C McIntosh (5fs) and O Gillan (1f) 0-6 each, C Leech 0-2, N McKeown, D McNaughton, N McLaughlin and C McCann 0-1 each
TO SEE MORE PICS FROM THIS GAME CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW
Cross & Passion College bounced back from their four point defeat to St Pat’s Maghera last week to beat Gaelcholáiste Dhoire in emphatic fashion at Quinn Park, Ballymena on Tuesday. The Ballycastle school was on top from the off and following an early goal by Oisin McCallin they never really looked back as they ran up a big total.
Gaelcholáiste Dhoire had opened thier campaign with a good performance against Magera and depite losing out by jus four points here were expected to give another good showing against CPC, who had also gone down to St Pat’s by same margin. However the Dungiven school could never really get going and now must face St Killian’s Garron Tower in a quarter final after the Halloween break.
Going on Tuesday’s showing, CPC will be very much in the running to retain their title as it was much improved from their outing a week earlier.
The early stages of this tie in Ballymena were competitive enough with free-taker Dylan Ó hÉireamhóinn responding to Conan Johnston’s early point.
However once Cadhán Crawford cut in from the left to hit the net in the 6th minute, the writing was on the wall for the Dungiven Castle team. Oisín McCallin ran clear for a second Ballycastle goal in the 12th minute.
Jude Ó Conaire fired over a point between the two goals, but Gaelcholáiste were relying on Ó hÉireamhóinn frees to keep in touch. After 20 minutes CPC led by 2-3 to 0-5. However the Antrim side hit the next six points, all from creative play, to open a gap before the break. Ó hÉireamhóinn eventually sent a free over only for Páidí O’Kane to set Oisín McCallin up for a third Ballycastle goal.
At 3-9 to 0-6 for the break, there was no way back for Gaelcholáiste and CPC piled on the scores over the third quarter, adding 2-5 to their total with just a free from Ó hÉireamhóinn in reply. Both goals came from the youngest player on the pitch, Páidí O’Kane, both neat finishes after impressive approach work.
Emmett McKendry added a sixth goal in the 49th minute and, in the final minute, substitute Ryan McQuaid forced his way clear to add a seventh.
The result puts Cross & Passion into a quarter-final with St Mary’s CBGS in a fortnight, while Gaelcholáiste will be trying their luck against St Killian’s Garron Tower.
Scorers
CPC: O McCallin 2-6, 0-2 fs, P O’Kane 2-1, E McKendry 1-2, C Crawford 1-1, R McQuaid 1-0, C Johnston 0-4, L McGarry and O Connolly 0-1 each
Gaelcholáiste: D Ó hÉireamhóinn 0-8, 7fs, J Ó Conaire
CPC: L Magee, E Johnston, L Smyth, A Gillan, O Donnelly, D Kinney, L Connolly, L McConville, O Connolly, C Johnston, O McCallin, L McGarry, P O’Kane, C Crawford, E McKendry.
Subs used: O Beaudant, C McAuley, R McQuaid, C McCaughan
Gaelcholáiste: C Ó hÉireamhóinn, Dylan Ó Ceallaigh, L Ó Muirí, Déaglán Ó Ceallaigh, C Ó Catháin, D Ó Lochlainn, K Ó Dubhghaill-Ó Cinnéide,O Mag Uiginn, C Ó Giolláin, D Ó hÉireamhóinn, E óg Mac Íomhaire, C Ó Baoill, A Mag Uiginn, C Ó Muirí-Mac Uilliam, J Ó Conaire.
Subs used: SP Ó Ceallaigh, S Mac Con Midhe, P Ó Ceallaigh, C Ó Ceallaigh
Referee: O Elliott (All Saints)
TO SEE MORE PICS FROM THIS GAME CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW
Lámh Dhearg LGFA held a very successful day of events to celebrate their 20th anniversary. The day began with u7 and 8 blitzes. A feast of football was served on a cold autumnal day by the host club along with Ardoyne, Rossa, St Paul’s and Sarsfield’s.
After the games a group photograph was taken of LGFA players and coaches on the pitch.
In the clubrooms after a hot buffet LGFA members enthusiastically participated in online bingo with the adults enjoying the game as much as the Children. It was very apt to see juveniles, coaches and players all together enjoying the bingo.
The bingo was followed by an entertaining chat show compered brilliantly by the confident and articulate hosts Caoimhe Whinnery and Celine Daly.
The interesting and insightful interviews with many key personalities focused on the origins and development of LGFA which was fascinating to listen to with some witty and happy memories relived.
It was also encouraging to see County Antrim LGFA chair, Ursula Lynch, County Senior Managers Mickey Devlin, Chris Scullion and Colette Ward, Senior Team Admin Manager present and they also contributed to the chat show.
The chat show concluded with Caoimhe Whinnery extending a vote of thanks and summarising the rapid and successful growth and development of LGFA in the club.
Special presentations were then presented to Kieran Megraw for Development of LGFA and Barney McKenna was inducted into the club Hall of Fame and both recipients deservedly received standing ovations.
The day finished with craic agus ceol and music from senior LGFA player Dymphna Cleneghan.
The well organised and enjoyable day was a fitting and poignant tribute to all who have worked hard in developing LGFA in the club and no doubt a bright future lies ahead for LGFA on the hill.
TO VIEW MORE PICS FROM THIS EVENT CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW
