Michael Geoghegan has been elected the 39^th President of the Ulster Council GAA at the recent Provincial Convention held at the Tyrone GAA Centre of Excellence, Garvaghey in Co. Tyrone.

Michael takes over from outgoing President Ciaran McLaughlin who has served as President for the last three years.

Born in Cavan Town, Michael’s family were involved with the Drumalee club before moving to Castleblayney where he played U16, Minor, U21 and Junior Football for Castleblayney Faughs. After getting married in 1983 Michael moved to Middletown, Co Armagh, where he joined the local club and played Junior and Senior football for Eoghan Rua, as well as serving on the club committee and becoming involved in fundraising.

In 2003 Michael began stewarding at County level, then at Provincial and National level, where he has been involved since. In 2011 he became a member of Armagh’s fundraising committee and was elected Vice-Chairman of Armagh County Committee in 2013. In 2015 he was elected as the Armagh delegate to the Ulster Council and was also appointed to the Central Competitions Control Committee.

In 2016 he took up the position of Ulster GAA Public Relations Officer, serving in this role until January 2019, before serving as Ulster GAA Treasurer until 2022 and then as Vice Chairperson for the following three years. He has also been a member of the National Hearings Committee and the National Games for All Committee.

In 2020, Michael was appointed by Central Council as the first Chairperson of the new Development Competition Control Committee.

He becomes the fifthArmagh representative to hold the position of Uachtarán Comhairle Uladh, following in the footsteps of Patrick Fearon (1932-34), Alfred Murray (1946-48), Con Short (1977-80) and John O’Reilly (2001-2004).

Also at Convention, Declan Woods (An Cabhán) was elected to the position of Vice President, Michael McArdle (An Dún) was elected to the position of Treasurer and Garrett Coyle (Muineachán) was elected the PRO for the incoming year.

BELOW – Pictured from left, Garrett Coyle, Ulster GAA Public Relations Officer, Michael McArdle, Ulster GAA Treasurer, Michael Geoghegan, Ulster GAA President, Declan Woods, Ulster GAA Vice-Chairperson, and Brian McAvoy, Ulster GAA Provincial Secretary.

Antrim Minor Camogs booked their place in the Ulster final when they convincingly beat Down in Sunday’s semi-final at Ballela.

Down actually started the brighter of the two sides and had two points on the board in the 2^nd and 4^th minutes, but once the Saffrons got going they soon were back on terms and by the time the home team got their next score the visitors were 0-10 ot 0-02 clear.

Eva McAlister opened the scoring with a point on five minutes and Mary McArthur had them level by the 9^th. Further points followed from Eva McNeill in the 12t and 13^th minutes and after Amy Ferris hit on in the 16^th minute McNeill came again with three in a row in the 16^th, 19^th and 24^th minutes. Ferris got her second point in the 26^th minute and after Down hit their third score of the game Eva and Kady McNeill came back with late points to put Antrim 0-12 to 0-03 in front at half-time.

Three minutes into the second half Aimme Ferris struck the first goal of the game and it was clear there was no way back for the Down girls. Antrim scores followed from player of the match Eva McNeill who hit a goal and seven in the last twenty minutes, the goal coming five minutes from time.

A great win for the Saffrons but they will face a much sterner test in the final where they face an excellent Derry side, a team that is backboned by the St Pat’s Maghera Corn Uan Ulahh winning side.

On Sunday the Antrim girls were well served by Orlaith Johnston, Eva Lee, Maeve Devlin, Kady McNeill, Eobha McAlister, Eva McNeill and Aimee Ferris