There were county champions crowned in Antrim, Armagh, Cavan and Donegal on a busy weekend of Senior Championship action around Ulster.
Antrim
Dunloy pulled off a remarkable upset to claim their first Antrim Senior Football Championship since 1936, defeating reigning champions Cargin.
Despite Cargin’s early possession and a missed first-half penalty from Tomas McCann, Dunloy seized control through Luke McFerran’s opening goal. Conhuir Johnston’s mazy run and finish cut the deficit to just two points at the break.
A second half major from Nigel Elliott bolstered Dunloy’s lead before inspirational captain Seaan Elliott added a penalty and several points, and although Michael McCann converted a late penalty for Cargin, it was too late to prevent Dunloy from securing a historic victory and ending Cargin’s bid for a four-in-a-row.
Armagh
Middletown staged a thrilling comeback to defeat Keady and secure their seventh consecutive Armagh Senior Hurling title at the BOX-IT Athletic Grounds.
Keady started strongly, led by Conor Corvan’s eight first-half points and dominance in puck-outs, holding a four-point halftime lead. However, Middletown surged after the break, with Rory Grimes transforming midfield and Dean Gaffney scoring 13 points to keep them in contention.
Ben Toal’s introduction late in the game proved decisive, scoring three crucial points to level and then put Middletown ahead, completing a remarkable turnaround and retaining the cup.
The SFC semi-finals also provided plenty of drama, with Cullyhanna pulling off a sensational comeback against Crossmaglen to book a final date with Madden. Trailing by 10 points early in the second half, Cullyhanna rallied to win 1-21 to 0-23, with Aidan Nugent’s late free proving decisive. Shea Hoey’s goal sparked the revival after Cross, led by Cian McConville and Aaron O’Neill, had dominated to lead 0-19 to 0-9.
Madden, meanwhile, reached their first county final since 1998 with a 0-14 to 0-11 victory over county champions Clann Éireann. Niall and Conor Grimley were key contributors as Madden built a commanding 0-10 to 0-4 halftime lead and held firm under second-half pressure to seal their place in the decider.
Cavan
Kingscourt Stars pulled off a stunning upset, overpowering the highly fancied Gowna to lift the Oliver Plunkett Cup for the first time in a decade.
A dramatic double strike in first-half injury time propelled the underdogs into a five-point halftime lead, 2-07 to 0-08.
Gowna started brightly, leading 0-4 to 0-0, but Kingscourt soon took control. Goals from Kevin Curtis and Joe Dillon, along with key scores from Jordan Morris and Cian Shekleton, turned the game around before halftime.
Gowna’s accuracy deserted them after the break, going 20 minutes without a score as Morris, Paudraig Faulkner, and Dillon stretched Kingscourt’s lead. Despite a few late points from Robbie Fitzpatrick and Cian Madden, Kingscourt cruised to a dominant win, sealed by a final free from Michael Gargan.
Derry
O’Donovan Rossa and Newbridge have booked their spots in the Derry SFC Final.
The Magherafelt men powered past Glen with goals from Conor McCluskey, Caolan Higgins (2) and Zach Gavigan, securing a commanding 4-15 to 1-14 victory.
Newbridge also earned a hard fought win in a thrilling semi-final, defeating Sleacht Néill 0-21 to 1-16. Conleth McGrogan and Conor McAteer contributed key two-pointers to give Newbridge a 0-14 to 0-8 halftime lead, and although Shane McGuigan’s goal gave Sleacht Néill hope, Conor Doherty and Padraig McGrogan added crucial scores to seal the win.
Donegal
Naomh Conaill overturned a seven-point halftime deficit to defeat Gaoth Dobhair 2-18 to 1-19 after extra time and lift the Dr Maguire Cup at O’Donnell Park. Despite trailing for the entire match, they drew level late on through Shea Malone’s two-pointer before taking the lead for the first time in extra time.
John O’Malley’s mark and Max Campbell’s decisive goal put them in control, with Campbell and Charles McGuinness extending the gap. Gaoth Dobhair rallied through Ethan Harkin, but Naomh Conaill held firm.
Finnbarr Roarty and Campbell starred for the winners, while veterans Brendan McDyer, Anthony Thompson, and Leo McLoone collected their eighth county medals, sealing another famous comeback for the Glenties men.
Down
Down’s top hurling clubs are set for another championship final following their semi-final victories on Sunday.
Portaferry crushed Bredagh by 21 points, keeping control after the first 20 minutes and extending their lead to seven by halftime. Gerard McGrattan’s side then cruised through the second half, finishing with 1-31.
In the other semi-final, Ballygalget defeated Ballycran in an Ards derby to reach their second consecutive final. Shea Pucci scored twice in a high-scoring first half, giving Ballygalget a 3-11 to 2-06 halftime lead, which they maintained to secure the win. The final between the sides is set for October 26.
Monaghan
Scotstown and Inniskeen will meet in the Monaghan senior final.
After trailing Clontibret early to Aaron Carey’s goal and Conor McManus’ point, Scotstown hit back with two quick goals from Darragh Murphy and Jack McCarron, leading 2-05 to 1-05 at halftime. They controlled the second half, with Rory Beggan adding a late two-pointer to seal a 2-15 to 1-12 victory.
Despite falling five points behind early on, Inniskeen recovered to defeat Magheracloone 0-23 to 0-12. Magheracloone raced into a five-point lead early on, with scores from Alan McCahey and Allan Kierans. Andrew Woods and Ciaran McNulty got Inniskeen on the board, and Sean Jones’ two-pointers kept them close, leaving the halftime score 0-8 to 0-6.
Inniskeen surged in the second half, taking the lead within two minutes and never looking back. Key scores from Jones, Woods, and Donal Meegan extended their advantage, and they ran out nine-point winners to book a place in the final.
Tyrone
Errigal Ciaran’s reign as Tyrone and Ulster champions ended as Trillick won 1-13 to 1-11 in an exciting semi-final at Omagh. Early Trillick scores from Mattie Donnelly and Simon Garrity were replied to by a wonderful Ruairi Canavan goal, but a James Garrity penalty soon after gave the Macartans a 1-08 to 1-05 halftime lead. Errigal Ciaran fought back through Darragh and Tommy Canavan and Tiarnan Colhoun, but late points from Daire Gallagher and James Garrity sealed Trillick’s win.
Their opponents in the final will come from a replay between Carrickmore and Loughmacrory after their 0-19 to 1-16 draw in Pomeroy. Loughmacrory led at halftime thanks to a flurry of early scores from Eoin McElholm, Cathal Donaghy and Arnoldas Macidulskas. A Carrickmore goal from Tiarnan Loughran kept them in the hunt in the first half, and after the break they fought back with Ruairi and Tiarnan Loughran and Lorcan McGarrity adding points to push them ahead, before Pauric Meenagh’s free forced a replay.
By Michael Devlin Mon 13th Oct
