Sunday 9^th November

The semi-finals of the under-21A football championship scheduled for Sunday brings together teams from the South and South West as Kickham’s travel to Milltown to meet St Gall’s while Aghagallon play hosts to St Brigid’s at Pairc Na Gael.

St Gall’s v Kickham’s Creggan (12.00)

St Gall’s have impressed on their way to this semi-final with wins over St John’s in their opening game at Corrigan Park and last week’s win over St. Paul’s in the quarter-final. St. Gall’s had home advantage for the St. Paul’s game and recorded a very impressive 2-21 to 0-07 win over the Shaw’s Road side.

Paul Austin was prominent in that win, kicking nine points over the hour and with Manus Smith and Niall Fallon busy in front of the opposition posts Galls were good value for their 20 point victory and served notice they were ambitious of securing their title.

Kickham’s have also impressed in their way to Sunday’s semi-final with Shea McCann in top form and Conor Johnston, Fintan Close and Fintan Kelly all hoping to make their mark on proceedings.

Creggan travelled to All Saints in their opening game and were good value for their 3-7 to 0-7 win but were regarded as outsiders when they entertained Dunloy in the quarter-finals on Monday night.

St Gall’s with ground advantage, will start this one as firm favourites but Kickham’s have shown great fighting spirit and a lot of ability in their two games to date.

Despite a slow start against Dunloy where they trailed for much of the opening half despite having the brisk breeze behind them, they struck with two late goals to lead at the break.

A couple of early points seemed to have put Dunloy back in control but Creggan were not to lose heart with Conor Johnston and Shea McCann leading the way and it was the latter’s late point which saw them run out winners by five points.

The Kickham’s will travel as outsiders but Fintan Close, Shea McCann and Fintan Kelly have the ability to swing it in favour of the South West side but St. Gall’s look favourites to progress.

St Mary’s Aghagallon v St Brigid’s

St Brigid’s enjoyed a clear path to the quarter final stage as Moneyglass withdrew from the competition due to their Ulster Intermediate game against Glenullin.

The South Antrim side faced a difficult draw in the quarter-finals when they were drawn away to Erins Own Cargin and looked in trouble when they trailed 3-05 to 0-04 at the short whistle, despite playing with the wind in the first half.

They came strong in the second half however as the home side failed to replicate their excellent first period performance to run out impressive 4-9 to 3-8 and this win will give them a lot of confidence as they make the trip to Aghagallon.

Niall Duffy with a couple of goals and another from Ruairi McErlean saw them nip ahead and as the home side struggled to regain confidence a penalty conversion by Issac Robinson in the last minute proved decisive.

St Mary’s did not enjoy a great 2025 season at senior level but the performance of their under-21 team at Kelly Park and Hightown suggests better times ahead.

They recorded an excellent 5-21 to 0-0-16 win over Casement’s and followed that up with win over a lively St Enda’s side to earn their place in the last four of the competition.

Aghagallon face what looks like3 their stiffest test to as St Brigid’s visit Pairc na Gael but it is a test they look capable of overcoming and although St Brigid’s will start this one as favourites the St Mary’s side may well gain the day.

U21B Semi-Finals

In the U21B semi-finals Tir na nOg travel to Enright Park to take on Gort na Mona while Rossa entertain neighbours Sarsfields.

The Gorts had a good win over Glenavy in their quarter-final at Sunday’s venue while Tir na nOg recorded a facile victory over visitors Ardoyne.

This one could be much closer but home advantage could swing it Gort na Mona’s way.

Sarsfield’s defeated St. Mary’s Rasharkin in Dreen in an entertaining quarter-final while Rossa recorded a ‘walk-over’ against Lamh Dhearg so they are an unknown quantity.

That run out last week at Dreen will have benefited Sarsfields and they get a tentative nod to advance to the final.

U21B Football Championship

Rasharkin 1-15 Sarsfield’s 3-14

St. Mary’s Rasharkin and Patrick Sarsfield’s served up an excellent contest as the U21B Football Championship got under way on Sunday afternoon.

The visitors looked to have sewn matters up at the halfway stage when they led 3-7 to 0-4 after a wind assisted opening half but Rasharkin served up a strong second half performance to cause a bit of anxiety for the men from the Bear Pit.

In the end though it was Sarfield’s who deservedly advanced to the semi-final and on this performance they could be contenders for the title.

The excellent Oisin Casey pointed Rasharkin into the lead after a cagey opening 9 minutes where the home side managed possession into the breeze and it took a further 5 minutes before Brian Healy would kick the equaliser.

Indeed the Sarsfield’s forward might well have had a goal but it was Casey who would restore his side’s advantage as he pointed a free in the 15^th minute and at this stage the St. Mary’s possession game was working well.

Things changed dramatically as Jack McLaughlin raced clear for a Sarsfield’s goal and further goals from Darren Delander and Brian Healy had the visitors in total control at the break when they led 3-7 to 0-4.

Brian Healey contributed four first half points to add to his goal while their centre half forward kicked two impressive 2 pointers.

Caolan McGarrell was Rasharkin’s other marksman with the other 3 coming from the excellent Oisin Casey who was the St. Mary’s driving force throughout.

Rasharkin were a different animal after the break as they set about eating into the Sarsfield’s lead with Daniel Doherty and 2 from Casey giving them a bright start to the second half.

The visitors were able to keep their noses in front however with Declan Barr fisting over and Healey 0-2 and Fionn Jemfry moving them 13 ahead by the 13th minute.

St. Mary’s were still fighting hard and a great 2 pointer from Oisin Casey and another from closer to goal and another from a Daniel Doherty free had it down to 9 with 12 minutes remaining.

Se Ferris punished a bad clearance to extend that lead to 10 but the home side were growing in confidence and a fisted goal from their star performer Casey gave them renewed hope.

It came too late to influence the outcome however with Brian Healey replying from a pointed free and Caolan McGarrell and Neil Darragh concluding the scoring with late points for a Rasharkin side, quite a number who are underage next year.

Brian Healey, Fionn Jemfry and Jay Maguire were best for a very good all round Sarsfield’s side while Oisin Casey, Oisin Doherty, Oisin McCamphill and Ciaran O’Neill were strong performers for Rasharkin.

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U21 B Football Championship

Tír na nÓg 3.14 (23) Ardoyne 0.8

Tír na nÓg got off to a blazing start at Whitehill at mid-day on Sunday, when they hosted Ardoyne Kickhams. They registered 6 scores through 3 points from Connor Hastings (2 frees), Pauric Redmond, Ryan Clarke & Caleb Smith with his first of the day before Ardoyne got off the mark with a 13min free.

The home side hit a further unanswered 4 scores; a 2 pointer from Caolan Hughes & further points from Clarke & Caleb Smith. Before the short whistle Smith rattled the back of the net, leaving the half time score in favour of the home team 1.14 (17) to 0.2.

In the third quarter both teams exchanged scores; Ardoyne hit 2 frees and a third 2 pointer. Tír na nÓg scores came from a Hastings free before Brendan Devlin hit 1.1 to leave the score 2.13 to 0.6.

Ardoyne finished strongly with 2 more points and Tír na nÓg hit a further point from Hastings before the last score of the game saw Caleb Smith fire to the net as the Whitehill side advanced to the semi-final.

Tír na nÓg 1. C. McKenna 2. R. Devlin 3. S. Mckeown 4. T. Bonnes 5. S. Grant 6. P. McCloskey 7. C. Hughes 8. B. Devlin 9. D. McLornon 10. A. O’Donnell 11. R. Clarke 12. S. Martin 13. P. Redmond 14. C. Smith 15. C. Hastings

Subs: Jude Storey for Alex O’Donnell, Conor ONeill for Tiarnan Bonnes, Ciaran McCamphill for Brendan Devlin, Christy Heffron for Ruiari Devlin, Shea Redmond for Conor Hastings.

U21A QUARTER-FINAL

St Enda’s  1-7     Aghagallon  2-9

Report & Pics by Brian Hamill

Aghagallon produced a spirited second-half comeback to claim a hard-fought victory over St Enda’s in a pulsating U21A clash that saw momentum swing dramatically at St Enda’s.

Trailing by five points late in the first half, the visitors looked to be in trouble after St Enda’s struck with a long range goal from corner forward Odhran McKenna and a flurry of frees from their lively right half forward Cathair McKenna. Midway through the first half, Aghagallon’s blood substitute Ronan O’Connor scored a goal, before being taken off again! Odhran Rooney was reliable for Aghagallon in the first half, converting two frees.  

Aghagallon regrouped at half time and came out with renewed purpose, overturning the deficit with a mix of grit, guile and clinical finishing.

EJ Loughran was instrumental in the turnaround, hitting four second-half points, two from play and two from placed balls, as Aghagallon gradually reeled in their hosts. His score at 23 minutes, a well-taken point from play, nudged the visitors ahead for the first time since the opening exchanges.

Eoin Maginnis added a crucial goal midway through the second half, powering his way through the defence to finish smartly and give Aghagallon a two-point cushion. Daniel McIlmoyle chipped in with a fine point from play, after coming on for the second half and Loughran’s accuracy from frees kept the scoreboard ticking over as St Enda’s struggled to regain their earlier rhythm.

Aghagallon’s defensive discipline, highlighted by the excellent performances from half back’s Enda McCartan and James McCormack and midfield dynamo Padraig Gowdy helped Aghagallon to regain control of the game that was lacking in the first half. 

Although there was a strong wind down the pitch for the entire game, both teams were more effective playing into the wind, but towards the end, St Enda’s used the wind to kick the ball high and long on a few occasions, as they chased Aghagallon’s lead. 

Aghagallon’s resilience and sharper finishing saw them over the line, securing a 2-9 to 1-7 win and sending a clear message to the rest of the U21 championship contenders.

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Under 21A Football Championship

Cargin 3-08 St Brigid’s 4-09

A penalty conversion in the 62^nd minute by Issac Robinson following  foul on Niall Duffy saw St Brigid’s complete a strong comeback to deliver the killer ‘punch’ and book a place in the under-21A championship semi-final at the expense of their hosts, Cargin in a ‘game of two halves in Toome on Sunday.

The home side dominated the opening period with St Brigid’s restricted to less than a handful of scores with Ruairi Mc Erlain raising two white flags, and Joe Logan helping himself to a ‘two pointer’.

Cargin opened positively and had four points on the board by the end of the first quarter and added goals in the second as Conhuir Johnston, Cillian Scullion and Hugh O’ Donnell followed suit despite playing against the breeze.

The Erin’s own side looked to be in a strong position at the break when they led 3-05 to 0-04 as they looked forward to the assistance of the elements in the second period.

Cargin, following an impressive win in the opening round of the under-21A championship, started this quarter started as favourites as they played hosts to St Brigid’s with the weather fine and the breeze assisting the visitors in the opening half.

It was Erin’s own who made a positive start however and Tom Shivers opened their account with an early point and although it took them a time to settle, a Cillian Scullion addition ensured they were a couple of points in front by the 10^th minute.

Despite the aid of the breeze the visitors were finding it hard to get going in the early stages and a Fiontan Hardy clearance opened the way for Jack Harbinson to raise white and when Conhuir Johnston added another the hosts had earned a 0-04 to 0-00 advantage and were looking good.

A Ruairi Mc Erlain pointed free got the visitors on to the scoreboard in the 16^th minute and Joe Logan followed with an impressive two pointer but Cargin were to finish the first period on top as Tom Shivers sent Conhuir Johnston away to fire home and secure a 1-04 to 0-03 advantage for the Toome side.

Cargin continued to press in the closing stages as a Tom Shivers delivery opened the way for Cillian Scullion to find the back of the net and Conhuir Johnston followed with a point.

They continued to press as the clock counted down as Hugh O’ Donnell completed a movement from defence to attack when he added a third goal with Ruairi McErlaine having the last say as he split the posts for the visitors to leave it 3-05 to 0-04 for the hosts as the half time whistle sounded.

The hosts started the second half with a quick attack and Conhuir Johnston pointed to increase their advantage but the visitors were about to return fire when a Niall Duffy effort from an acute angle nestled in the back of the Cargin net.

Tom Scullion quickly replied with a point but St. Brigid’s were beginning to find their feet as they took control in the central zone and JJ Higgins added a second goal and the Musgrave Park side had made impressive inroads into the Cargin lead.

Cargin still retained a three point advantage but that was about to change as Niall Duffy added a point and when the same player added a two pointer the momentum was now very much with the visitors.

St Brigids were now dominating as Duffy added back to back pointed frees and mid fielder Brian McGarrath followed with a goal to ensure a 3-09 to 3-07 lead.

Ben Mc Lernon responded with a point to close the gap to the minimum but their visitors had the scent of victory in their sites and Issac Robinson Stepped forward to despatch a 62nd minute penalty to the net to kill the Cargin challenge and earn his side a place in the semi-finals.

Cargin: Shea Laverty, Fiontan Hardy, Cahir Donnelly, Cahir O’ Boyle, Callum Gribbin, Ben Mc Lernon (0-01), Jack O’ Neill, Charlie Mc Cann, Tom Shivers (1-02), Hugh O’ Donnell (1-00), Jack Harney (0-01), Conan Johnston (0-01), Cillian Scullion (1-00), Cian Scullion, Conhuir Johnston (1-03)

Subs

Patrick O’ Neill

St Brigids: Fergus Canning, Aodhan Mc Nicholl, Sonny Doyle, C Logue, Niall Finnegan, Donnacha Mc Gurk, Eoghan Sheehey, Brian Mc Garrath (1-02*)Josh Toner, Niall Duffy (2-4 2, 2pointers), Issac Robinson (1gl), Ruairi Mc Erlaine (1-2 1-2 pointer), JJ Higgins (1-00), Joe Logan (1-2pts)

Subs:

Joe Mellon,

Conor O’ Connell

Dara Oglisby

Referee: B Toland (Lamh Dhearg)