Ulster Junior Club Football Championship

Drumhowan Monaghan v Rasharkin Antrim

Clones –Sunday – 1.30pm

Antrtim Junior Football champions, St. Mary’s Rasharkin travel to St. Tiernach’s Park, Clones on Sunday where they face Drumhowan of Monaghan in the quarter-final of the Ulster Club Chmpionship. It’s been a great year for the men from Dreen who claimed the division 3 league title and went on to complete a memorable league and championship double.

Under the guidance of Cathal McMullan, Paddy Kelly and their backroom staff, St. Mary’s have grown in confidence as the season progressed. The new management team have replaced many of the old guard who had served the club so well over the last decade and introduced quite a number of new faces and the results have been positive.

The young St. Mary’s won 11, drew 1 and lost two of their 14 fixtures in Division 3 to finish two points ahead of O’Donnell’s and after topping Group 1 in the Junior Championship, they would again come up against the MacRory Park side in the Junior Championship semi-final.

Rasharkin were drawn at home in that one by virtue of topping their group but were made to work hard for a place in the final.

A bright start and a strong finish powered St. Mary’s Rasharkin to victory over a determined O’Donnell’s in this P GRAHAM TARMAC Junior Football Championship encounter at Dreen.

Eamon McNeill and James Higgins can do damage in the Rasharkin attack

Rasharkin got off to a lightning start with Cormac McMullan pointing after 20 seconds and before the opening minute had elapsed, Eamonn McNeill took advantage of a defensive mix-up to force the ball to the net.

O’Donnell’s came back strongly however and with Rasharklin down to 14 men following a Black card had it down to a goal with four minutes to play but a mistake in defence and some quick thinking by Fearghal Kennedy saw him set up Oisin Casey for a decisive third goal.

It was Eire Og that the men from Dreen would meet in the Antrim final at Dunsilly and Rasharkin  looked to be heading for a comfortable win when they led by 8 points but the Derriaghy side fought back brilliantly to square the contest by half time, following another Black card to the eventual winners.

Rasharkin were a different animal after half time, however.  With Tiernan O’Boyle’s brilliance from long range along with the midfield prowess of Oran McMullan, Rasharkin never looked behind them.  Defensively, Pearce Kelly was outstanding, giving an exhibition from the full back line as the Óg’s tried to isolate Conor Dixon as much as they could.

The running power and speed of James Higgins and Cormac McMullan through the middle of the pitch ensured Rasharkin had an outlet to relieve any Éire Óg pressure while Ryan Doherty’s saves between the sticks went a long way in Rasharkin’s victory.

O’Boyle’s contribution was massive with the big mid-fielder kicking four 2 pointers on the night in a man of the match display while Eamonn McNeill and Thomas Hasson’s goals were also pivotal.

Tiernan O’Boyle who kicked four 2 pointers in the Antrim final

The Monaghan champions, Drumhowan could provide the Antrim champions with a step up in class to the sides they have faced this season in Antrtim and manager, Cathal McMullan and his backroom team will be keen to cut out the mistakes that could have cost them dearly in the Antrim semi-final and final.

Their opponents on Sunday, Drumhowan are the 2026 Monaghan JFC winners. They defeated Aghabog 2-20 to 3-13 after extra time in the Monaghan final and look a side to be reckoned with.

Drumhowan came back from 2-04 to 0-06 down at half-time to beat Aghabog after extra time in Scotstown and claim the club’s third Junior double, after 1960 and 2006.

Aghabog started fast. Ciaran Logue fisted a goal in the first minute and Dermot Smyth scored a second on 30 minutes. They led 2-04 to 0-06 at half-time but Drumhowan came back after the break, with Caolan Reilly scoring a goal. It finished level after 60 minutes, 1-14 to 3-08.

In extra time, a two-pointer from Tom Doherty and a goal from Darragh McAdam proved decisive.

Rasharkin should travel to Clones with confidence however. Their side has grown as this season has progressed and if they can produce their best over the hour and cut out silly mistakes then they have the ability to progress to the semi-final.

Monaghan champions, Drumhowan who take on Rasharkin in the Ulster Junior Club championship in Clones on Sunday

Above – Rasharkin’s man of the Match Tiernan O’Boyle in action during his team’s team’s win

Young Rasharkin fans celebrate with the team after the cup presentation

P Graham Tarmac Junior Football Championship Final

Rasharkin 2-15 Éire Óg 0-13

Friday 16 October

Brendan McTaggart reports from Dunsilly

Rasharkin added the junior crown to the league title they won earlier this season thanks to a huge second half performance that saw them pull away from Éire Óg.  Goals in either half from Eamon McNeill and Thomas Hasson laid the foundations for Rasharkin’s victory but it was the long range kicking of Tiernan O’Boyle that was the difference between the sides.

The Rasharkin midfielder hit four two pointers in a quite brilliant display with his two in the second half enforcing the Dreen teams dominance.  Despite the scores being all square at the interval, Hasson’s early major and O’Boyle’s two pointers ensured they would be celebrating by the full time whistle.

The Óg’s more than contributed to an excellent final and for 15 minutes in the first half, they had Rasharkin shaken.  The Dreen men found their rhythm early doors and it looked like it would be a comfortable evenings work for Cathal McMullan’s side.

The Derryiaghy men hit back with Eoin Dixon, Mark O’Hanlon, Conor McKenna and Conall Smyth all leading the charge as they reeled off seven scores and eight points unanswered.

Rasharkin were a different animal after half time, however.  With O’Boyle’s brilliance from long range along with the midfield prowess of Oran McMullan, Rasharkin never looked behind them.  Defensively, Pearce Kelly was outstanding, giving an exhibition from the full back line as the Óg’s tried to isolate Conor Dixon as much as they could.

The running power and speed of James Higgins and Cormac McMullan through the middle of the pitch ensured Rasharkin had an outlet to relieve any Éire Óg pressure while Ryan Doherty’s saves between the sticks went a long way in Rasharkin’s victory.

It was Éire Óg who scored the opening point of the game with Lorcan McIlroy splitting the uprights in the second minute.  They showed a sign of their intent moments later when Ronan McKeown brought the best out of Doherty between the posts.  Running on to a deft touch from McIlroy, McKeown’s effort was superbly saved by the Rasharkin goalkeeper.

Higgins split the uprights for Rasharkin in the sixth minute as they settled into their game before Oran McMullan rode a couple of big tackles and gave Rasharkin the lead with the next attack.

Brendan Shannon hit his first of two points by the eighth minute but Tiernan O’Boyle took centre stage to put some early daylight between the sides. Two huge two pointers in the space of two minutes had the Óg’s reeling before Eamon McNeill scored the opening goal of the final.

It was Cormac McMullan who read the break of the ball in the middle of the park and passed forward for McNeill. The Rasharkin man ran through and unleashed a thunderous, dipping effort to beat Jamie King between the sticks for the Óg’s.

Killian O’Boyle and Conall Smyth swapped points before Éire Óg had a sight of the Rasharkin goal once again. Smyth and Eoin Dixon before the Éire Óg midfielder blazed wide, much to the relief of the Rasharkin defence.

Conor Dixon struck the Óg’s fourth point of the final to leave six points between the sides just after the quarter hour mark but the Derryiaghy men were thrown a lifeline when Brian Óg O’Neill was black carded.  With the numerical advantage and Rasharkin not organising properly, Éire Óg dominated the remainder of the half and played some clinical football.

A free from Conor Dixon preceded a free from outside the 40 meter arc from his brother, Eoin to leave three between the sides.  Points followed from Smyth and Barry McDaid before Luca Mulholland’s goal bound effort saw Ryan Doherty called into action once again.

Eoin Dixon split the posts with the last score of the half, working a short ’45 with Mulholland before splitting the posts to leave the half tome score 1-7 to 0-10.

Rasharkin couldn’t get into the changing rooms quick enough while Éire Óg didn’t want the half to end. 

The men from Dreen made a dream start to the second half with Thomas Hasson’s goal coming with the clock just ticking into the 32^nd minute.  Oran McMullan with the strong run through the heart of the Éire Óg defence and while his effort was well saved, Hasson was on hand to knock the rebound into the back of an empty net.

Éire Óg responded by Karl McKenna splitting the posts but they could have had a goal moments earlier.  Conor Dixon’s effort for a point dipped viciously before coming back off the posts where McKenna blazed the round over the bar.

Tiernan O’Boyle’s third two pointer of the game, this one an absolutely huge effort that seemed to still be raising when it hit the ball catcher net put five between the side before Doherty was called into action once again.  O’Hanlon finding Conor Dixon but yet again, the Rasharkin ‘keeper denied the Óg’s.

The Dreen men were playing the second half with more intensity and certainly not inviting Éire Óg onto their defence as much.  Their ability to turn over ball higher up the pitch or force an error was paying dividends as they looked to put the game to bed.

Thomas Hasson and Eamon McNeill split the posts before Tiernan O’Boyle’s fourth two pointer of the final all but put the game to bed with a quarter of the final remaining.

Rasharkin were awarded a penalty when Thomas Hasson was upended when through on goal, but half time substitute’s effort from the resulting spot kick was well saved by Éire Óg ‘keeper Jamie King.

Credit to the Óg’s, they continued to look for the scores that would bring them back into the final but Rasharkin never looked troubled in the final ten minutes.

Brendan Shannon (free) and Ronan McKeown split the uprights either side of scored from Casey and Oran McMullan to give Rasharkin an eight point win and ensure the junior crown would reside in Dreen for the 2026 season.

TEAMS
Rasharkin Starting XV: Ryan Doherty; Liam Quigg, Fergus Quigg, Pearce Kelly; Thomas Hasson, Fearghal Kennedy, Colm Kennedy; Tiernan O’Boyle, Oran McMullan; Cormac McMullan, Eamon McNeill, James Higgins; Killian O’Boyle, Brian Óg O’Neill, Andrew Hasson

Subs: Oisin Casey for B Óg O’Neill (HT); Daniel Doherty for A Hasson (40); Pearse McTague for K O’Boyle (45); Daniel McGurk for F Kennedy (58)

Scorers: T O’Boyle 0-8 (4TP); T Hasson 1-1; E McNeill 1-1; O McMullan 0-2; J Higgins 0-1; K O’Boyle 0-1; O Casey 0-1

Éire Óg Starting XV: Jamie King; Barry McDaid, Brian O’Malley, Karl McKenna; Conor McKenna, Stephen Erskine, Conor Dixon; Ronan McKeown, Eoin Dixon; Mark O’Hanlon, Lorcan McIlroy, Brendan Shannon; Luca Mulhollan, Jarlath Devlin, Conall Smyth

Subs: Dermot Burns for C Dixon (42); Mark Graham for C Smyth (49); Ciaran Rice for S Erskine (50); John Erskine for B McDaid (52); Adam McKenna for E Dixon (57)

Scorers: E Dixon 0-3 (1TPF); C Smyth 0-2; B Shannon 0-2 (1F); C Dixon 0-2 (1F); B McDaid 0-1; K McKenna 0-1; R McKeown 0-1; L McIlroy 0-1

Referee: Eamon Elliott (Lámh Dhearg)

TO SEE MORE OF BRENDAN’S PHOTOS OF THE GAME, CLICK ON THE LINK….

https://myalbum.com/album/L8T7dTmKWG6X9H/?invite=ca9bf227-3af1-4eeb-9deb-b809fe54319a

TO SEE PHILIPS’S PHOTOS FROM THE GAME, CLICK ON THE LINK…..

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TO SEE PADDY’S PICS FROM THE GAME CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW

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P. Graham Tarmac JFC Semi-Final

Éire Óg 2-08 Ardoyne 1-09

Report and photos by Brian Hamill

Éire Óg booked their place in the P. Graham Tarmac Junior Football Championship final after showing tremendous character to see off Ardoyne in a tense and hard-fought semi-final at Cliftonville. 

The visitors settled quickest and struck a major blow inside the opening five minutes when Brendan Shannon found the net. Ardoyne responded well through points from Oisin Maskey and two frees from Aidan McNeill but Éire Óg continued to look dangerous on the counter-attack. 

Scores from Conall Smyth, Mark O’Hanlon and Conor Dixon helped Éire Óg maintain their advantage, while Ardoyne relied heavily on the accuracy of Aidan McNeill from placed balls. A point from Ciaran Lopes ensured that the Kickham’s remained in touch, but Éire Óg turned over at the break with a deserved 1-6 to 0-6 lead. 

Ardoyne emerged with renewed purpose after the restart and steadily reduced the deficit. Two excellent two-point frees from Aidan McNeill hauled the home side right back into contention, while Oisin Maskey continued to make an impact around midfield. With little between the sides entering the final quarter, the game was very much on a knife edge. 

A crucial moment arrived in the 59th minute when Éire Óg midfielder RonanMcKeown was shown a black card. With the contest hanging in the balance, it appeared the numerical disadvantage could tilt the game in Ardoyne’s favour. Instead, Éire Óg responded superbly. Despite being reduced to 14 men, they seized control through disciplined possession and intelligent game management. The influence of Lorcan McIlroy, Ronan McKeown and Stephen Erskine was particularly important during this period. 

The decisive score arrived in the 62nd minute when Mark Graham fired home Éire Óg’s second goal from close range. Ardoyne responded immediately when Cahal Keown found the net at the opposite end, setting up a frantic finish. 

Despite the late pressure, Éire Óg remained composed and successfully saw out the closing moments to secure a hard-earned victory and a place in the championship decider. Their ability to take control of the game while down a player ultimately proved decisive.

Éire Óg scorers

• Conor Dixon 0-4
• Brendan Shannon 1-0
• Mark Graham 1-0
• Eoin Dixon 0-1
• Conall Smyth 0-1
• Mark O’Hanlon 0-1
• Ronan McKeown 0-1

Ardoyne scorers

• Aidan McNeill 0-6 (including two two-point frees)
• Cahal Keown) 1-0
• Oisin Maskey 0-2
• Ciaran Lopes 0-1
• Referee: Fionntán McCotter 

TO VIEW MORE OF BRIAN HAMILL’S PHOTOS CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW

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P GRAHAM TARMAC JFC Semi-Final

Rasharkin 3-12 O’Donnell’s 1-12

A bright start and a strong finish powered St. Mary’s Rasharkin to victory over a determined O’Donnell’s in this P GRAHAM TARMAC Junior Football Championship encounter at Dreen on Saturday.

Rasharkin got off to a lightning start with Cormac McMullan pointing after 20 seconds and before the opening minute had elapsed, Eamonn McNeill took advantage of a defensive mix-up to force the ball to the net.

Any notion that the home side were in for an easy evening were soon dismissed however with the Whiterock Road side settling into the game and their strong aggressive play had them soon back in contention.

Jonathan McKenna and Fionbar McKernan replied with points before a couple of pointed frees from Brian Og O’Neill moved the hosts four ahead by the 13^th minute.

O’Donnell’s continued to push forward and it took an excellent save from Ryan Doherty to deny Richard McAvoy with McAvoy converting the resulting ‘45’ to leave a goal between the sides with 8 minutes remaining to the break.

Eamonn McNeill for Rasharkin and Jonathan McKenna exchanged further points before Rasharkin wasted a couple of excellent opportunities to put further distance between the sides when Killian O’Boyle fired wide from close range and McNeill saw his shot rebound of an upright and cleared to safety.

The visitors were sharp in the tackle and depriving St. Mary’s space to play but a strong run from the excellent James Higgins opened up their defence and he placed Brian Og O’Neill for the final point of the half to leave it 1-5 to 0-4 at the break.

The second half was only 30 seconds old when Fionbar McKernan sent over a good point from a difficult angle to cut the deficit to three again but Higgins raced clear at the other end to fist over and move the gap to four once more.

It was end to end at this stage and Jonathan McKenna fired over from distance for the visitors and two more excellent scores from Richard McAvoy had it back to one by the 6^th minute as O’D’s enjoyed a period of supremacy.

Brian Og O’Neill replied for the Dreen side before Rasharkin were punished for dissent when the ball was brought forward and Padraig McKissock converted the resulting free.

O’Donnell’s continued to battle and a smart delivery deceived Fergus Quigg and the excellent Ryan McAvoy stole in behind to fire to the net from close range and the sides were level.

Just when it looked like the game was swinging in favour of the MacRory Park side, St. Mary’s countered from the kick-out and a sweeping move from deep in defence saw Brian Og O’Neill fire past Conor Murphy and restore the home side’s three point advantage.

A point from substitute, Pearse McTeague extended the Rasharkin lead to four but the home side then suffered a setback when they had a player dismissed for a second yellow card.

O’D’s fought to take advantage of the extra man and Fionbar McKernan pointed another free that was moved forward for dissent and Richard McAvoy and Paul Moors added further points and the gap was back to a goal with four minutes remaining.

Misfortune struck the Belfast side as the game edged into time added on when Stephen Seawright was caught in possession and was penalised for over carrying with Fearghal Kennedy taking a quick bounce and go before setting up Oisin Casey who finished to the net from close range.

McKernan for O’Donnell’s and Cormac McMullan for Rasharkin exchanged late points as the home side ran out winners by six points and the league champions are still on course for the double as they await the outcome of the other semi-final between Ardoyne and Eire Og on Sunday at Cliftonville.

Rasharkin: 1 Ryan Doherty, 2 Liam Quigg, 3 Fergus Quigg, 4 Pearce Kelly, 5 Thomas Hasson, 6 Fearghal Kennedy, 7 Colm Kennedy, 8 Tiernan O’Boyle, 9 Oran McMullan, 10 Cormac McMullan, 11 Eamonn McNeill, 12 James Higgins, 13 Killian O’Boyle, 14 Brian Og O’Neill, 15 Andrew Hasson.

Pearse McTague (0-01) for Killian O Boyle, Oisin Casey (1-0) for James Higgins Daniel Doherty for Éamonn McNeill Daniel McGurk for Fergus Quigg

O’Donnell’s: 1 Conor Murphy, 2 Kevin Kennedy, 3 Stephen Seawright, 4 Sean Smylie, 5 Jonathan McKenna, 6 Scott Thompson, 7 Patrick Meenan, 8 Gerard McKernan, 9 Paul Moors, 10 Richard McAvoy, 12 Cailean Walsh, 13 Fergal McNerney, 14 Fionbar McKernan, 15 Padraig McKissock, 27 Sean Laverty

Subs: Joseph Wilson, John Rafferty

Referee: Patrick Tumelty (Lamh Dhearg)

TO VIEW MORE PICS FROM THE GAME CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW

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Graham Tarmac Antrim Junior Football Championship

O’Donnell’s 2-15 Pearses 0-10

The Antrim Junior Football Championship Quarter-Final clash between Cardinal O’Donnells (O’Dees) and Na Piarsaigh (Pearses) at Macrory Park delivered an action-packed contest, with O’Dees pulling away in the final quarter to seal a vital victory.

The match was already a tightly contested affair by the 15-minute mark, with O’Dees holding a narrow 4-2 lead. Pearses began to find their rhythm shortly after, narrowing the gap in the 20th minute when Fionn Grew slotted over a point from a free. Five minutes later, Orán Sweeney added another for Pearses, pointing nicely from just inside the D. However, O’Dees responded in the 27th minute when Sean Pat Donnelly registered a point to halt Pearses’ momentum. Benefiting from a strong tailwind, O’Dees went into the half-time break leading 6 to 3.

The second half opened at a frantic pace. Just one minute in, Fionn Grew struck again for Pearses with a well-taken point. O’Dees quickly answered back in the 3rd minute as Sean Pat Donnelly added his second point of the match.

A pivotal moment arrived moments later following a botched short kick-out by Pearses. Padraig McKissock intercepted the errant pass and delivered a beautiful ball to Richard McAvoy, who expertly chipped the goalkeeper to find the back of the net for O’Dees. Despite the setback, Pearses kept fighting. After Sean Pat Donnelly fired over another point for O’Dees in the 5th minute, Fionn Grew responded with a point for Pearses just a minute later. In the 8th minute, Paul Moore kept the scoreboard ticking for O’Dees with a point from a free. Pearses then surged back into the game, culminating in a 12th-minute point from Phil Murray that sensationally leveled the scores.

With the game in the balance, O’Dees found another gear. In the 14th minute, Fionnbarr McKernan fired them back into the lead. The momentum firmly shifted in the 18th minute when Sean Pat Donnelly registered another crucial score, this time a two-pointer. Immediately from the resulting kick-out, Cailean Walsh secured possession and drove over a definitive two-pointer for O’Dees in the 19th minute.

Pearses pushed hard for a lifeline and generated a solid goal-scoring opportunity in the 21st minute, but the O’Dees defence stood tall, cleared their lines, and transitioned the ball swiftly up the pitch where Fionnbarr McKernan swung over a spectacular point from the wing. Sean Pat Donnelly then took complete control of the game’s closing stages. He notched another point in the 22nd minute and, after O’Dees won the subsequent kick-out, he immediately soloed through the Pearses defence to pop another effort over the bar in the 23rd minute.

Pearses managed to pull a consolation point back in the 24th minute through a Sean Moreland free. However, it was Richard McAvoy who had the final say, capping off his impressive performance with a 29th-minute point from play to officially seal the win for Cardinal O’Donnells

Cardinal O’Donnells: 1 Conor Murphy, 2 Sean Lavery, 3 Stephen Seawright, 4 Kevin Kennedy, 5 Jonathan McKenna, 6 Scott Thompson, 7 Patrick Meenan, 8 Gearoid McKernan, 9 Fergal McNerney, 10 Paul Moore, 11 Sean Pat Donnelly, 12 Richard McAvoy, 13 Padraig McKissock, 14 Fionnbarr McKernan, 15 Cailean Walsh,

17 Conor Walsh, 18 Conor Walsh, 19 Patrick Golden, 20 Ciaran McKissock, 21 Joe Rafferty, 22 Barra Corr, 23 Darragh Walsh, 24 Joseph Wilson, 25 Liam McCaffrey, 26 Sean Smylie.

Na Piarsaigh: 1 Eamonn McKenna, 2 Darren O’Neill, 3 Peter Johnston, 4 Jay Collins, 5 Cormac Gillespie, 6 Aidan Bannon, 7 Orán Sweeney, 8 Luca Gianetto, 9 Oisin Grew, 10 Fionn Grew, 11 Cormac O’Neill, 12 Sean Moreland, 13 Liam Deegan, 14 Phil Murray, 15 Dylan McAlorum,

16 Piaras Toolan, 17 Joseph Kelly, 18 Lorcan Grew, 19 James Smyth, 20 Thomas McGuigan, 21 Barry Harper, 22 Piaras Donaghy, 23 Aodhan McCavana, 24 Conall Hughes, 25 Vincent Lismore, 26 Aogan Nugent, 26 Kevin Breen, 27 Conor Murray, 28 Tom McFarlane, 29 Pól Stanton

Referee – Sean Elliott

TO SEE MORE OF DYLAN’S PICS FROM THIS GAME CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW

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