FonaCAB St Pauls Ulster Minor Football Tournament

Four Masters (Donegal) 2-9) Maherafelt (Derry) 0-13

Two goals in injury time saw Donegal champions Four Masters snatch victory from the jaws of defeat in Saturday evening’s quarter final of the St Pauls Ulster Minor Football tournament against Derry champions O’Donova Rossa, Magherafelt at Colaiste Feirste.

With the wind at their backs in the first half the Magherafelt boys were in total command and after twenty one minutes play they were 0-8 to 0-0 ahead, their brilliant midfielder Conall Higgins scoring six of the points. It was twenty five minutes before the Donegal champions opened their account when Colhoon scored their first point and they added to it four minutes later, but Magherafelt came back with a J Beattie point in injury time to send them in with what appeared to be a comfortable seven point cushion.

When Four Masters got the four points of the second half, three of them from brilliant corner forward McCahill, it was clear this game was far from over, but Man of the Match Conall Higgins appeared to have wrapped it all up when got two of the next three points to push the gap out to three again. When the Derry champions pushed the gap out to five going into injury time a place in the semi-final seemed assured, but the drama was only starting.

In a totally incredible finish Four Masters were awarded a penalty which centre forward Kevin Muldoon fired to the net, which cut the gap to two points. Magherafelt must have still thought the game was safe but in the fifth minute of injury time a long ball into the Maghera square was punched home by Tiernan McBride to put his team in front, and there was still time for corner forward Turlough Carr to add the insurance point.

Four Masters: L McCaughan; A McHugh, D McGinty, T McGovern; C Gavigan, C McCrea, A Quinn; T McBride (1-0), T Colhoun (0-1); Tomas Carr (0-1), K Muldoon (1-0 pen), P McGonagle; C McCahill (0-5, 2f), O Doherty, Turlough Carr (0-2)
Subs: E O’Neill for C Gavigan (47), L McNamee for A McHugh (59), C Dunnion for A Quinn (63)

Black card:  C McCrea (37)
Yellow Cards: T Colhoun (20), C McCahill (50)

Magherafelt: K Campbell; T Cartin, Z Gavigan, C McCabe; E Spiers (0-1), R Small, C Kerr; J Beattie (0-1), Conall Higgins (0-8, 2f); M McKenna (0-1), Caolan Higgins, L Higgins; B McCormack (0-1), C Spiers (0-1f), M Higgins
Subs: K Maynes for B McCormack (38), T Beattie for C McCabe (54), M Lavery for C Kerr (54)

Black card: M McKenna (36)

Referee: C McDonald (St Gall’s)

The St. Paul’s fona/CAB Ulster Minor Football tournament gets underway tomorrow despite a late withdrawel by the Tyrone representatives from the tournament.

A statement issued by St. Paul’s this week read:

The organising committee has received confirmation this morning from Tyrone GAA that they have stalled the Tyrone Minor Football Championship until the new-year and as a result, there will be no Tyrone representative participating in the 2023 fonaCAB Ulster Minor Football Tournament, supported by Belfast City Council. CLG Naomh Pól now progress to quarter final 4 where Mayobridge await. 

While this is not the outcome anyone wishes to see, the organising committee is happy to bring the uncertainty to an end.

We look forward to the beginning of the tournament this Saturday with a blockbuster opening day double header at Sportlann, Colaiste Feirste between Clan na Gael v Castleblaney Faughs at 1pm and Four Masters v Magherafelt at 5pm

After a long successful season, Glenavy Senior Ladies felt it was only right to play another game. We braved the cold and ice at the end of November and took to our home pitch for an in house game. Despite having played for 11 months none of us were quite ready to hang up the boots! And obviously my team came away with a strong win – I think I even scored a sneaky point!

We then took to the club house to heat up with pizza. We used this evening to celebrate all those people who had helped us so much throughout the year.

We could not thank Marie Anne our first aider enough for all her work on the sideline. She was there for every game and helped all of us in some way. Collette and Tyrone were next on our thank you list. Both have been a massive support for us over the past 4 years and have been an incredible voice for ladies Gaelic. We had the impossible task of thanking our coaches Micky, Neill and Chris, all of whom sacrificed so much for us over the course of the two years and have got us further than we could have ever dreamed!

Last but not least … our very own Bert Trowlen. There are not enough words to thank this man for everything he has done for us. Bert has been there for as long as so many of us can remember and it was only right to show our appreciation. Bert was given a scrap book of memories of the Senior Ladies team, a book that could have gone on forever! It was only a small token of our appreciation. We will never be able to thank Bert enough for the work he has done.

Finally we all had a goodbye to say to Grainne McLaughlin as she took off on her travels to Australia. Grainne has been a key player for Glenavy Senior Ladies for over 10 years. For so many of us we have never played without her, so this will take some adjusting. Grainne is such a motivating player and we cannot imagine the changing rooms without her team talks. (There will be lots of FaceTimes needed). While we are all gutted to see her go, we wish her the best of luck and we cannot wait to see her back!

Mary McStravick – team captain