Ulster Under-21 Club Champions Tournament

[Centre Half]

Ulster Under-21 Club Champions Tournament
By Brendan Crossan

The cream of the U21 grade will descend on Kickhams Creggan for the Thomas Devlin Ulster U21 Club Champions Tournament next month, for what promises to be an intriguing festival of football.
Now in its third year, the Kickhams Creggan tournament continues to go from strength-to-strength, with each county champion entered this year. Burren lifted the Paddy McLarnon Memorial Cup in the first two years, which helped the club grow in stature at senior level.

Burren senior manager Frank Dawson gave the Kickhams Creggan U21 tournament a resounding thumbs up.
“We had nine or 10 of the team that played in the Creggan tournament last year lining out against Crossmaglen in the Ulster senior final recently,” Dawson said.
“It’s a brilliant competition. You’re exposing players to teams outside of your own county. Take last year’s final: we played Kilrea and they hadn’t been beaten in Derry since U12.
“You’re coming up against really good opposition, you’re pitting yourself against different styles of football and referees and that experience is invaluable.”
Dawson added: “It’s the bridge between minor and senior. And clubs get noticed by these competitions. It’s definitely a worthwhile competition and it helped the Burren lads immensely.
Also, the thing about the U21 age bracket is you get to see some great games because there is not too much negativity in that grade.”

Special guest at last night’s launch at the county Antrim club were Antrim senior manager Liam Bradley, Derry boss John Brennan, Armagh’s Paddy O’Rourke and Ulster Council representative Michael Hassan.

Antrim champions Creggan, Fermanagh champions Belcoo, Derry champions Dungiven, Tyrone champions Omagh, Down champions Mayobridge and Armagh champions Cullyhanna will be represented this year.

Kickhams official Olcan McAteer has been delighted with the response to this year’s eagerly awaited event.
“We hope to develop this competition over the next few years, much like the St Paul’s (minor) tournament,” said McAteer.
“Burren won it the last two years and you can see how their senior team has progressed.
“It’s going to take a bit of time but every club that has taken part has spoken in glowing terms about the U21 competition.
“It has attracted great crowds too which we’ve been delighted about and this is the first time we’ve got all the U21 club champions competing this year.”


Draw

Sunday 22 January
Preliminary Round (2.30)
St Patrick’s,Cullyhanna (Armagh) v Belcoo O’Rahilly’s (Fermanagh)

Quarter Finals
Omagh St Enda’s (Tyrone) v Scotstown (Monaghan)
Kickhams Creggan (Antrim) v St Patrick’s, Cullyhanna (Armagh)/Belcoo O'Rahilly's (Fermanagh)
Mayobridge (Down) v Assan Gaels (Cavan)
Kilcar (Donegal) v St. Canice's Dungiven (Derry)

The Irish News
Friday December 30 2011

[sliothar]

All the best to St Pat's Cullyhanna

[TacadoirArdMhacha]

St Patrick’s 1-16 Belcoo (Fermanagh) 0-2

The first competitive fixture of 2012 for St Pat’s was their much anticipated entry into the Ulster under 21 championship. This most welcome initiative is organised by the Kickhams Creggan club in County Antrim and it was they who hosted this preliminary round fixture. A good crowd of Cullyhanna supporters made the long journey and they were rewarded by a decent performance as St Pat’s registered what turned out to be a fairly facile victory.

Perhaps understandably, the match got off to a slow start as the seven weeks without a competitive fixture meant Cullyhanna exhibited an element of ring rustiness. Although St Pat’s dominated possession and territory in the opening stages, it was seven minutes before they fashioned the first scoring opportunity of the match, Kyle McEvoy pointing a free to register the opening score. Playing against a stiff breeze, scoring chances were a premium for Cullyhanna. Eleven minutes in, Belcoo capitalised on a rare attack with a point. It was ten minutes before the spectators were treated to another score but the point was well worth the wait as Eoin McArdle carried the ball out of defence before transferring to the overlapping Sean Connell who kicked a fine score. It was another defender who added to the Cullyhanna lead a minute later, a wonderful individual burst from Micky Murray allowing the corner back to kick an excellent score. That was to be the final score of a fairly poor first half. Without having played particularly well against the breeze, St Pat’s will have been grateful for their half-time lead on a scoreline of 0-3 to 0-1.

Whatever was said at half-time certainly lifted the malaise that appeared to be overcoming the Cullyhanna side as they emerged from the half-time break a reinvigorated outfit. It took Colm Hoey merely 30 seconds to score the opening point of the half while a good pass from Pearse Casey four minutes in allowed Tony Donnelly to evade his marker and fire over a point. Cathal McGlade justified his half-time introduction within five minutes as he managed an excellent score. By this stage, the Cullyhanna pressure was incessant and Colm Hoey added to Belcoo’s woes with a magnificent long range point. Cullyhanna were in total control of the match throughout the second half and were able to extend their advantage almost at will. A superb individual effort from Cathal McGlade gave them a seven point lead after 11 minutes of the second half, while substitute Rory O’Neill got into the scoring groove soon after entering the fray when he profited from a Sean Connell pass after an excellent crossfield ball from Gareth Mackin. 16 minutes into the half, Pearse Casey broke an opposition kickout expertly, finding Tony Donnelly who kicked a mammoth point to extend the lead to 9 points. By this stage the match was over as a contest with Belcoo showing few signs of mounting a fightback. Two pointed frees from Kyle McEvoy and Rory O’Neill respectively followed before Belcoo doubled their tally with a point. St Pat’s were determined to finish the match with a flourish however and when Tony Donnelly found Rory O’Neill with a pass 3 minutes from time, he rattled the Belcoo net for the only goal of the game. It was exhibition stuff from Cullyhanna in the final stages as Cathal McGlade combined with Kyle McEvoy to allow the latter to kick a point before Rory O’Neill added to his tally with a minor score. There was still time for Conor Nugent to get his name on the scoresheet while Colm Hoey’s third point of the second half brought proceedings to a close as Cullyhanna ran out comfortable victors on a scoreline of St Patrick’s 1-16 Belcoo 0-2.

This was a very creditable performance and the freescoring nature of the second half was particularly pleasing. However the team should be under no illusions that the host club will provide much stiffer opposition next week and that further improvement will be required if our run in this competition is to be extended. The final score was perhaps harsh on Belcoo who played the match shorn of their midfielder and captain Brian Cox who missed the match through injury and were competitive throughout the first half. Culyhanna’s defence as a unit coped very well, particularly when under sustained pressure facing the first half breeze. Eoin McArdle had a fine game while Colm Hoey’s attacking runs were constant thorn in Belcoo’s side. Pearse Casey got through a mountain of work in midfield, particularly in the difficult first half while Rory O’Neill exhibited scoring flair when introduced. Congratulations to Tony Donnelly who received the sponsors award for man of the match.

Cullyhanna now progress to play Kickhams Creggan at their pitch in County Antrim (134 Staffordstown Road, Randalstown County Antrim BT41 3LH) next Sunday 29th January. Throw in is at 12 45pm and we hope there will be a good crowd of travelling support in attendance.

Starting XV: Deaglan McArdle; Kieran McCooey, Darren Mackin, Micky Murray (0-1); Sean Connell; (0-1), Eoin McArdle, Colm Hoey (0-3), Pearse Casey, Tony Donnelly (0-2), Genie McCooey, Neil Donnelly, Kevin Hoey; Kyle McEvoy (0-3), Gareth Mackin, Conor Nugent (0-1). Subs Used: Cathal McGlade (0-2) Rory O’Neill (1-3), Liam McGlade

[corn02]

Good stuff TAC, hope you go all the way.

[Vladimir]

Great to see that. They're a good team and they have the quality to go all the way.

[sliothar]

Shows the gap in Counties, our Intermediate winners would have beaten this lot .. well done but harder days to come.. keep the faith.

[TacadoirArdMhacha]

I don't think that match is any real reflection of Fermanagh club football as a whole. Only 3 teams entered the under 21 championship, Belcoo having won for the past 4 years.

[sliothar]

So how credible is the actual competition??

St Pats can only beat what is put in front of them and IMO I think that they are quite capale of beating the best that any County with a serious U21 competition has to offer as opposition, they can go the whole way.

[Vladimir]

So how credible is the actual competition??

St Pats can only beat what is put in front of them and IMO I think that they are quite capale of beating the best that any County with a serious U21 competition has to offer as opposition, they can go the whole way.

The competition is very credible indeed. They have the qualities to go all the way. Getting over Sunday will be a big deal though.

[sliothar]

By credible I mean that there are a number of teams in it that wouldn't get passed the first round in Armagh, Down Tyrone, Derry or even Antrim.

A Fermanagh team qualify from a C'Ship with 3 teams in it??!!

I am in no way questioning St Pat's or some of the stronger opposition that they will undoubtably meet as the competition progresses.. they had to go out and beat Belcoo and did so in style -fair play to them and I wish them all the best in the rest of the competition.