Electric Ireland Ulster Minor Championship – Round-up

There were victories for Derry, Tyrone, Cavan and Monaghan in Saturday evening’s Electric Ireland Ulster Minor Football Championship games.

In the Athletic Grounds the windy conditions made things difficult for football  and it took Armagh 20 minutes to open the scoring, Ciaran Donnelly on target. Enda Downey responded for Derry before Oisin King and Michael McConville gave the home side a 0-3 to 0-1 lead at the break.

The second half again started slowly before Derry asserted themselves in the final quarter outscoring Armagh 1-3 to 0-1 in this period, PJ McAleese with the goal and the Downey’s Enda and Matthew on target with points to leave the final score Derry 1-5 Armagh 0-4.

League winners Tyrone were made to work all the way by Donegal in Ballybofey. The Red Hands led 1-4 to 0-4 at the break with Sean O’Donnell scoring the goal for Tyrone.

Led by Carlos O’Reilly and the impressive Jonny McGroddy Donegal fought back and, thanks to a Paul O’Hare goal, took the lead midway through the second half. At this point Daniel Fullerton and Mark Devlin stepped up for Tyrone finishing with 0-9 between them as Tyrone pulled away late on for a 1-12 to 1-8 win.

In Corrigan Park, Antrim and Monaghan played out a similarly low-scoring encounter with Liam McDonald kicking a brace for the visitors to help the Farney into a 0-4 to 0-1 half time lead.

The second half was just as dogged with neither team taking a backward step. Jason Irwin scored his second point of the day to help Monaghan into a 0-6 to 0-2 lead before he received a second yellow card midway through the half.

The home side struck late for an injury time goal through Joe McNally but Monaghan held on for a 0-6 to 1-2 win.

In Kingspan Breffni, Cavan proved too strong for Fermanagh recording a 2-14 to 1-7 victory. Fermanagh had early scores from Conor Courtney and Ronan McGovern to lead but Cavan kept in touch with the help of three points from Daryl McGurren. Late points from McGurren and Caoimhin McGovern helped Cavan to a 0-7 to 0-5 lead.

Second half goals from substitute Jack Tully and midfielder Caoimhin McGovern made sure that the Breffni men safely progressed to the next round. Fermanagh to their credit never gave up Oliver Hughes Jordan scored a late goal for the Erne men.