Paul McGirr Cup quarter-final

Casement’s Portglenone 1-7 Four Masters (Donegal) 2-11

Despite a superb individual performance from midfielder Odhran Doherty, Casement’s Portglenone were forced to succumb to an excellent all round Four Masters of Donegal in the quarter-final of the Paul McGirr Cup in Dromore on Sunday.

Doherty covered every blade of grass of Gardrum Park and accounted for all but one of his sides total over the hour but the Donegal champions had greater strength in depth throughout the field and that proved the difference in the end.

Doherty got the Antrim champions off the mark from a pointed free in the opening minute but Four Masters replied with a vengeance as Gethin Mosby found the net with four minutes gone.

Mosby’s goal seemed to fire the boys in Blue into action and they added points from Daire Slevin, Thomas Lenehan and a fine long range effort from Thomas Carr before Slevin fired home their second major of the evening with only 11 minutes on the clock.

Portglenone looked rattled as they tried to cope with the movement of the Masters but they did reply through two fine points from the impressive Odhran Doherty, much to the approval of the good crowd who had travelled to support them.

Thomas Lenehan, who was impressing on the ‘40’ replied for the Donegal side and Thomas McHugh moved them further ahead before Odhran Doherty brought his and his sides total to four for the half to leave Four Masters 7 ahead at the break

Half Time: Casements 0-4 Four Masters 2-5

The Bannsiders needed a good start to the second half if they were to turn this one around but in the event it was Four Masters who continued to call the shots as Finn Gillespie, Thomas Carr and Thomas Lenehan 0-2 moved the 11 ahead after14 minutes.

The Antrim side had yet to register in the second half and might have been further behind but Eoghan Smith pulled off a great save to deny the opposition when a goal looked certain.

Gethin Mosby moved the Donegal side 12 ahead before Odhran Doherty final opened the Casement’s second half account with a point in the 20^th minute and it brought about a response.

Casement’s were still battling hard and it took a superb point blank save from Fintan James to deny the excellent Doherty as he tried to drag his side back into the contest.

Conor Burns became the second Portglenone player to get his name on the score sheet with a point in the 22^nd minute and Doherty was finally rewarded for his efforts when he found a way past James in the Four Masters goal with five minutes remaining.

It was too little-too late with Lenehan replying with a point in the 26^th minute but it was fitting that the final score of the game would fall to man of the match, Doherty as he brought his personal total of the evening to 1-6.

A good season for this excellent Portglenone side who have won the Antrim U16 championship and Breslin Cup but on the day they came up against a bigger and stronger Four Masters side.

More than half of today’s Casement’s side are under age next year again and they should again be serious contenders in the year ahead.

Four Masters: Fintan James, Eoghan Thomas, Ethan McCrea, Sean Sweeney, Thomas Healey, Jack McGroarty, Odhran McMullin, Thomas Carr, Thomas Griffin, Daire Slevin, Thomas Lenehan, Rory Doherty, Finn Gillespie, Gethin Mosby, Thomas McHugh.

Casement’s: Eoghan Smith, Cillian McKenna, Conall Morgan, Cillian McDonnell, Thomas Douthart, Christy McDonnell, Tom Duffin, Odhran Doherty, Rory O’Kane, Eoghan McErlean, Tom Convery, Conor Burns, Frank McAleese, James McVeigh, Conor McKeever

Referee: Paul Gallagher (Castlederg)

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St. James’ Aldergrove held their annual dinner dance on Saturday night at the Devenish Complex. With 300 guests in attendance, a great night was had by the juvenile and senior players and their families. The ever-present Katrina Moore was MC of the event, and she held counsel in her own inimitable style and humour.

Chairman Paul McCarthy opened the proceedings with a short welcome speech and then the senior men and ladies’ captains, Ronan Hanna and Anna Crossan, awarded all the juvenile female and male awards to the next generation of Grove stars.

The formalities were completed when John Jones updated the members on the club development plans, the significant growth of the membership, the need for volunteers and launched the Christmas cash call fundraiser.

After the meal, the kids mingled and danced away with their senior counterparts to complete a fantastic evening and the club made a cheque presentation to Bert Trowlen on behalf of the Saffron Gael.

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Captains Odhran Doherty (Portglenone) and Tomás Carr (Four Masters) at the tournament launch

Four Masters v Roger Casements Portglenone

Sunday 17th Nov. Gardrum Park, Dromore @ 4pm

The second quarter final in the Paul McGirr Ulster U16 Club Championship in association with MFC Sports takes place at 4:00 p,m, in Gardrum Park Dromore this Sunday and promises to be an intriguing encounter between Antrim champions Rogers Casement’s Portglenone and Donegal’s Four Masters.

The Four Masters club are currently riding on the crest of a wave sweeping all before them in Donegal underage football having won both the U16 and U18 championships coming on the trail of last year’s U18 team who are the current holders of the Ulster U18 title won in fine style at St Pauls last year.  Led by the inspirational Tomas Carr from midfield the Donegal town lads will be looking to emulate their club mates as they seek to win the Ulster crown, Carr forms a formidable midfield partnership with Thomas Healy and they will be hoping to provide an attacking platform for a forward line featuring the impressive Thomas Lenehan, Finn Gillespie and Gethin Mosby among others.  Ethan McCrea and Conal Flannery form the spine of a very tight back line which has rarely been penetrated this year to date conceding just 0-4 in the county final against Dungloe.   

Four Masters manager Emmett Gallagher commented on the importance of Ulster football at this level ‘’We are delighted and honoured to be part of the Paul McGirr tournament for 2024. Underage football is about development and gaining experiences. Our players are relishing the opportunity of playing against the best players and club teams of their age in Ulster. We know we face a tough challenge in the quarter final from Roger Casements. They are a club with a proud tradition and have had a great year to date winning the Antrim U16 Championship and their Senior team getting to a county final. We look forward to what should be a close and competitive game.”

Roger Casements are hoping that this crop of players can crown what has been a fine year for the Portglenone club, a year that has seen them making huge progress across all levels and marking them out as the possible heir to Cargin’s throne.  Having had a huge victory over St. Paul’s in the Antrim semi-final, the black and amber boys emerged 3 point victors in an epic encounter with a highly fancied St. Brigid’s side in their county final. Despite trailing by 3 points and being reduced to 13 men early in the second half the South West Antrim lads dug deep into their reserves to secure a very warranted and historic first U16 county title.  The flame haired Odhran Doherty who produced a scintillating display in that final will be the man the Donegal boys will have to stop, Conall Morgan and Christy Doherty lead their defence while Tom Convery, Conor McKeever and Conor Burns will be tasked with the job of keeping the scoreboard ticking against a mean Four Masters rearguard.         

Roger Casements manager Owen Doherty is really looking forward to the occasion on Sunday ‘Roger Casements are thrilled to participate in the prestigious Paul McGirr Tournament following our first ever 16 Antrim Championship. Competing in this renowned tournament is an exciting opportunity for our players to continue develop their skills against the top teams in Ulster. We look forward to the opportunity to represent Antrim in Ulster against the formidable Four Masters Donegal on the 17th November.” An enticing encounter is expected and it would prove very difficult to predict a winner between the two sides, Four Masters ability to nullify Doherty in midfield could well be the deciding factor.

Paul McGirr

“Paul Mc Girr was only 18 years old when he was fatally injured during a county minor match in Omagh. Paul was representing Tyrone in an Ulster Minor Football Championship game against Armagh when he collided with another player. Paul was a fierce competitor and had risen through the footballing ranks with Dromore and Tyrone GAA. His youthful energy and application were recognised by all around the village of Dromore, with many children looking up to Paul as someone they aspired towards. Although Paul was taken at such an early stage in his life, his spirit lives on within the wider GAA community. Each year, the ‘Paul Mc Girr’ tournament takes place in Dromore, which sees the U-16 winners of each Ulster County battle it out to be declared an Ulster Champion.”_