Naomh Pádraig are 2024 Ulster Club Junior Football Champions

2024 AIB Ulster Junior Club Football Final

Naomh Pádraig Uisce Chaoin (Donegal) 3-7

Craigbane (Derry) 1-12

Naomh Padraig Uisce Chaoin were crowned 2024 AIB Ulster Junior Club Football Champions after a one-point victory over Craigbane in Celtic Park on Saturday.

Second half goals from Caolan McColgan and Kevin Lynch set the Donegal champions on their way to the title, but they had to withstand a nervy finish as Jude Óg Moore hammered Craigbane’s only goal to the net with the last kick.

Naomh Pádraig went ahead early and kept their noses in front for the remainder of the game, with Cormac McColgan and Jonathan Toye influential in the first half in particular. They struck for their first goal in the 14th minute when Drew McKinney turned in a rebounded shot into the net.

Craigbane’s Lee Moore and Jude Óg Moore hit scores to bring the margin back to a point by half time, 1-3 to 0-5

After the break Naomh Pádraig grabbed a major foothold in the game with further goals coming from McColgan and Lynch, giving them a 3-5 to 0-9 lead with 15 minutes to go.

Jude McLaughlin (2), James McLaughlin and Lee Moore however kept Craigbane in the fight before Jude Óg Moore finished emphatically to bring the gap back to one in the final moments.

The Donegal men weren’t to be denied however their first every provincial title, securing an emotional win for the club.