Weekend’s Club Championship round-up in Ulster
Antrim
Neil McManus scored an incredible 4-9 for Cushendall to inspired them to a 4-22 to 0-19 win over Loughgiel that clinches their place in the Bathshack Antrim SHC semi-finals. Three of those goals came in the first half, by which time Cushendall were already out of sight.
Dunloy are still on course for a historic fifth Antrim SHC title in a row after a hard-fought 0-26 to 021 win over St. John’s, Belfast, secured their place in this year’s semi-finals. They trailed by four points at half-time against the defensively well-organised city team, but the introduction of Keelan Molloy for the second-half changed the game in Dunloy’s favour.
Rossa secured second spot in Group 1 with a comfortable 6-26 to 2-16 win over Clooney Gaels. The winners scored their first three goals in the first quarter, and there was no way back for Clooney Gaels thereafter.
Ballycastle’s 2-21 to 3-17 win over St. Enda’s secured their place in the quarter-finals where they will play Rossa. A Ciaran Butler goal late in the second-half ultimately proved to be the decisive score of the game. Loughgiel will play St. John’s in the other quarter-final.
Armagh
After the final round of the group phase of the Armagh SFC was played over the weekend, Crossmaglen, Clann Eireann, Madden, and Killeavy secured top spot in their respective groups and advance directly to the quarter-finals. They’ll get to rest up this weekend whereas eight other teams will be in action in the preliminary quarter-finals to decide what four teams make up the final eight of the championship. Ballymacnab will play Sarsfields, St. Peter’s will play Armagh Harps, Silverbridge will play Granemore, and Dromintee will place Clan na Gael for a place in the quarter-finals.
Cavan
Gowna’s 2-10 to 0-12 victory over Castlerahan in the Kiernan Service Station Cavan SFC means four of the eight quarter-finalists are now known as they progress to the last eight along with Killygarry, Crosserlough, and Kingscourt Stars. Castlerahan’s defeat means they now need to beat pre-championship favourites Crosserlough to keep their own hopes alive. It’s going to be a very exciting final round of the group phase this weekend as every team not already qualified for the knock-out stages still has a mathematical chance of progression.
Derry
Reigning champions Glen made it four wins from four in Group A of the Derry SFC with a hard-fought 2-14 to 3-9 victory over Swatragh. Magherafelt did the same trick in Group B, their fourth win on the trot, a 2-13 to 0-11 win over Kilrea leaving them top of the table. Ballinascreen and Lavey have a game in hand on every other team in Group A, and they meet tomorrow night in a match that could have a big bearing. With two rounds to go in the group phase, Loup are in the last chance saloon and need to beat Ballinderry in their next match to have any hope of progressing to the knock-out stages.
Donegal
The draw for the fourth round of the Michael Murphy Sports Donegal SFC has thrown up some big games, most notably the meeting of reigning champions Naomh Conaill and Glenswilly. Noamh Conaill have two wins and a draw from their first three matches, while Glenswilly have won all three of their games to date. A win for either here will secure a place in the quarter-finals.
The overall pictured in the Donegal SFC will become clearer when Glenfin play Sean MacCumhaill’s in their postponed Round 3 match, but it looks like there will be something at stake for every team going into Saturday’s Round 4 matches which will all be played at 5.30pm.
The top four will go straight through to the quarter-finals, the next eight will play in the preliminary quarter-finals, and the bottom four will contest the relegation play-offs.
The Round 4 draw is as follows:
- MacCumhaills v Kilcar
- St. Nauls v Killybegs
- Dungloe v Gaoth Dobhair
- Ardara v Milford
- Naomh Conaill v Glenswilly
- St Michael’s v St Eunan’s
- Cloughaneely v Four Masters
- Aodh Rua v Glenfin
Down
Reigning champions Kilcoo showed they’re still the team to beat in the Morgan Fuels Down SFC with a comfortable 1-10 to 0-5 victory over Mayobridge. Jerome Johnston’s first-half goal gave the reigning champions a 1-5 to 0-2 interval lead, and they never looked like being caught from there.
The win means that Kilcoo are through to the quarter-finals along with Burren and Longstone. The winners of the remaining Round 2 match between Downpatrick and Clonduff will join them there. There’s one other outstanding Round 2 match – the meeting of Carryduff and Saul with the prize of progression to Round 3 on offer for the winner.
The quarter-final line-up will be completed by the four teams that are triumphant in Round 3.
Fermanagh
The Fermanagh Senior Football Championships gets underway on Saturday with the meeting on Kinawley and Devenish.
That’s followed on Sunday by three more matches as reigning champions Enniskillen Gaels play Ederney, Erne Gaels play Belnaleck, and Derrygonnelly play Roslea.
Monaghan
Inniskeen ended Castleblayney’s bid for a seventh Monaghan SHC title in a row thanks to a dramatic 1-11 to 0-13 Final victory. County star Niall Arthur was man of the match, scoring 1-6 to help Inniskeen to their first senior hurling title since 2016.
A vital penalty save by Pauric Dowdall in the game in the first half and they trailed by a single point at the break. Arthur’s second-half goal was the crucial score of the match, though Castleblayney will also reflect that some poor shooting cost them on the day.
