Round-up: Weekend’s Senior Club Championship Action from around the Country:
Antrim
Goalkeeper Kevin Mullan was Portglenone’s hero in their 1-10 to 0-11 victory over St. Gall’s in the Northern Switchgear Antrim SFC quarter-final. He made two crucial saves, the best of them coming early in the second-half to deny Niall Burns from close range. St. Gall’s missed two other goal-chances whereas Portglenone took the one that came their way when Aidan McAleese hit the back of the net for their only score of the first half.
In the three other quarter-finals RuairiMcCann inspired Creggan to a 1-14 to 1-10 win over Rossa, Dunloy just about resisted a second-half rally from St. Brigid’s to win by 0-14 to 0-13, while reigning champions Cargin enjoyed a comfortable 4-20 to 0-9 win over Aghagallon.
Armagh
St. Peter’s, Carrickcruppen, Killeavy, and Madden are through to the quarter-finals of the Cormac Leonard Commercials Armagh SFC after weekend wins. Killeavy produced the the stand-out performance in their 1-21 to 1-12 win over Mullaghbawn. Exciting young forwards Fergal Boylan and Aron Magennis notched 1-6 and 0-4 respectively for the Stevie McDonnell managed team.
St. Peter’s showed a lot of character to come from seven points down to defeat Culloville by 1-14 to 2-10. Niall McConville started the comeback with four points early in the second-half while James Moore kicked the late winner.
An Eoin Woods goal was the key score as Carrickcruppen defeated Granemore by 1-10 to 0-10.
The Armagh SFC quarter-final line-up is as follows:
Maghery v Madden
Cullyhanna v St. Peter’s
Crossmaglen v Carrickcruppen
Clann Eireann v Killeavy
Carlow
Éire Óg were left kicking themselves after a failure to observe the three players back rule cost them victory over defending champions Rathvilly in the Michale Lyng Motors Carlow SFC group phase. Rathvilly had done well to narrow a five-point deficit to the minimum but Éire Óg looked like they’d hold on for the win until that lapse of concentration allowed Kevin Murphy to level the game from a 13-metre free. In the weekend’s other group games Palatine defeated Tinryland by 1-18 to 1-5, Bagenalstown beat Fenagh by 4-12 to 0-10, and Old Leighlin beat Mount Leinster Rangers by 0-11 to 0-4.
Cavan
Reigning champions, Crosserlough, are into the last four of this year’s Kyle Powertech Cavan SFC after a hard-fought 2-17 to 0-19 win over Arva. Last year’s Intermediate champions started brightly but were pegged back when Stephen Smith struck for Crosserlough’s first goal. Crosslough led by 1-14 to 0-10 at the break, with 12 of their points scored by county star Paddy Lynch. Arva came on strong in the second-half and drew level thanks to a couple of two-pointers by Peter Morris but Crosserlough then got their vital second goal from captain Peter Smith.
In the weekend’s other quarter-final, Gowna defeated Cavan Gaels by 1-22 to 0-11 with Conor Madden’s second-half goal paving the way for a comfortable enough win.
The two other quarter-finals were postponed and have been refixed for this week.
Mullahoran will play Ramor United in Kingspan Breffni on Tuesday at 8.15pm while Kingscourt Stars will play Ballyhaise at the same time and in the same venue on Wednesday.
Clare
Cratloe had to dig deep to see off Ennistymon after extra-time on a final scoreline of 2-14 to 2-13 in the TUS Clare SFC quarter-finals. The win earns them a semi-final clash with Doora/Barefieled who themselves had a narrow one -point win – 1-13 to 1-12 – win over Kilmurry Ibrickane. That semi-final will be a repeat of their third-round tie which Cratloe won by a point thanks to a late Enda Boyce kick.
The other semi-final will feature reigning champions Éire Óg Ennis against Lissycasey. Both teams enjoyed fairly comfortable quarter-final wins with Éire Óg defeating St. Joseph’s Miltown Malbay by 1-16 to 0-9 and Lissycasey beating St. Breckan’s by 2-17 to 0-14.
Cork
The result of the final round of group matches in the Cork Premier SFC was Newcestown’s victory over defending champions Castlehaven, the first time they’ve beaten them at senior level. Late scores from Tadhg Twomey (2) and Dave Buckley sealed the historic win.
Nemo Rangers secured direct progression to the semi-finals thanks to a 4-18 to 0-13 victory over St. Michael’s. Mark Cronin was their star-turn in attack, scoring 1-7, with Bryan Hayes chipping in with six points.
The draw for the Cork Premier SFC quarter-finals is as follows:
Ballincollig v Duhallow
Newcestown v Carrigaline
St. Finbarrs v Castlehaven
Derry
Newbridge got the defence of their O’Neills Derry SFC title back on track with a resounding 24-point win over Loup in the preliminary quarter-finals. Loup briefly threatened an upset when they raced 1-4 to 0-0 ahead, but they wouldn’t score again while Newbridge kicked 1-25. Derry U20 star, Oisin Doherty, scored 1-7 while the Young brothers, Eamon and Sean, scored seven points between one another.
Damon Gallagher was the main man for Bellaghy in their 2-20 to 3-11 win over Faughanvale, scoring an impressive 1-9.
A first-half goal by Oisin Feeney proved decisive for Banagher in their 1-18 to 0-17 win over Dungiven.
Niall Toner scored 1-11 as Lavey cruised to a 1-20 to 0-5 win over Kilrea.
The draw for the Derry SFC quarter-finals is as follows:
Magherafelt v Bellaghy
Steelstown v Newbridge
Glen v Banagher
Slaughtneil v Lavey
Donegal
The headline news from the preliminary quarter-final round of the Michael Murphy Sports & Leisure Donegal SFC was Termon’s elimination of reigning champions St. Eunan’s on a scoreline of 1-16 to 0-18 after extra-time. The winners led by 1-9 to 0-5 at the break but needed injury-time points by Oisin Harkin and Aaron Reid to send the game to extra-time. Termon were that bit better in extra-time as points from John James Sweeney, Daire McDaid, Patrick Fegan, and Enda McCormick helped them to a famous victory. 2023 champions, Naomh Conaill, are through to the quarter-finals after a 3-15 to 2-10 win over Killybegs. Two goals from ex-Sligo Rovers star, Shay Malone, proved to be decisive scores.
The Donegal SFC quarter-final line-up is as follows:
Sean MacCumhaill v St. Michael’s
Naomh Conaill v Termon
Four Masters v Dungloe
Kilcar v Gaoth Dobhair
Down
Portaferry and Ballygalget both maintained their 100% records in the Morgan Fuels Down SHC over the weekend. Champions Portaferry were very impressive 18-point winners over Ballycran but it was much tougher for Ballygalget who edged out Bredagh by two points. The two teams will play one another in the final round of group games in two weeks’ time with the prize on offer for the winner a semi-final against the fourth placed team. A draw would suffice for defending champions Portaferry because of their superior scoring difference .
Dublin
Cuala produced the performance of the final round of the Group Phase of the Go Ahead Ireland Dublin SHC when defeating a previously unbeaten Kilmacud Crokes by 0-26 to 1-21 to secure their place in the quarter-finals. Donal O’Shea, Con O’Callaghan, Liam Murphy, and Jake Malone were to the fore as Cuala opened up a 0-17 to 1-9 half-time lead. Crokes mounted a second-half comeback but two late points by O’Shea sealed the victory for Cuala.
Reigning All-Ireland champions Na Fianna made it five wins from five as they defeated Lucan Sarsfields by 0-25 to 1-18. It was Sarsfields who led by two at the break thanks in no small part of Paul Crummey’s goal and five points from Sean Harkness, but Na Fianna dominated the second-half as players like Brian Ryan and Colin Currie really hit their stride.
The Dublin SHC quarter-final draw is as follows:
Na Fianna v Cuala
Lucan Sarsfields v St. Brigid’s
Kilmacud Crokes v Naomh Barróg
St. Vincents v Ballyboden St. Enda’s
Galway
Killannin produced a tremendous second-half comeback to defeat Mountbellew/Moylough by 3-10 to 1-15 in the Galway SFC preliminary quarter-finals.
Trailing by 11 points at half-time, they outscored their opponents by 2-9 to 0-3 in the second-half to secure their place in the quarter-finals proper.
The quarter-final line-up is as follows:
Maigh Cuilinn v Ougherard
Salthill Knocknacarra v St. James
Tuam Stars v Killannin
Corofin v Dunmore MacHales
Kerry
Dr. Crokes defeated Na Gaeil in the Kerry Senior Football Club Championship Final. You can read a match report of the game HERE.
Kildare
Moorefield showed a lot of character to win a game they looked like losing for most of its duration against Maynooth in the Joe Mallon Motors preliminary quarter-finals. Maynooth led by 0-7 to 1-1 at the break and dominated possession in the second-half but couldn’t put Moorefield away. An Evan O’Brien two-pointer for the Newbridge club left just two between the teams and then Luke Sweeney struck for a late goal that gave them a winning momentum.
In the weekend’s other preliminary quarter-final Johnstownbridge defeated Eadestown by 1-9 to 0-8 with Daniel Flynn scoring the all important goal.
The Kildare SFC quarter-final draw is as follows:
Naas v Clare
Athy v Caragh
Sarsfields v Johnstownbridge
Moorefield v Celbridge
Kilkenny
Ballyhale Shamrocks made a statement of intent in Round 1 of the St. Canice’s Credit Union Kilkenny SHC with a resounding 1-32 to 2-8 win over Erin’s Own of Castlecomer. They had 12 different scores over the course of a game that was over as a contest long before the final whistle.
Bennettsbridge battled to a hard-fought 2-21 to 0-25 win over Tullaroan with the Blanchfield brothers very much to the fore. David netted a penalty in the opening five minutes and his brothers Liam and Kevin combined for their team’s other goal early in the second-half which gave them enough of a buffer to hold on for the win.
In the other two first-round matches Clara edged out Lisdowney after extra-time and Dicksboro had a hard-fought win over Graigue Ballycallan.
The Kilkenny SHC quarter-final draw is as follows:
Glenmore v Dicksboro
Mullinavat v Bennettsbridge
Thomastown v Ballyhale Shamrocks
O’Loughlin Gaels v Clarea
Laois
Courtwood produced the shock of the round in the Laois Shopping Centre SFC quarter-finals when beating Portlaoise by 4-11 to 0-14. Goals in quick succession from Mark Bates and Cian Doyle helped Courtwood into a 2-5 to 0-7 half-time lead and then two more in the second-half by Alan Kinsella and Doyle again sealed the deal. Reigning champions Portarlington enjoyed a comfortable 20-point victory over Arles-Killeen. Jack Foster and Ronan Coffey scored the goals as the holders coasted to a 2-24 to 1-7 victory. In the weekend’s two other quarter-finals, Graiguecullen defeated Killeshin by 3-11 to 0-16 and St. Joseph’s beat Ballyroan Abbey by 2-16 to 2-14.
The draw for the Laois SFC semi-finals is as follows:
Portarlington v Graiguecullen
Courtwood v St. Joseph’s
Leitrim
The knock-out rounds of the Connacht Gold Leitrim SFC are now set in stone after the final round of group games were played over the weekend.
Leitrim Gaels and Fenagh are straight through to the semi-finals after finishing the group phase as the top two. Reigning champions Mohill will put the Fenagh Cup on the line on Saturday in the quarter-finals against Glencar-Manorhamilton with Aughawillan and Ballinamore Sean O’Heslins contesting the other quarter-final. St. Mary’s Kiltoghert will face Melvin Gaels in the relegation play-off.
Limerick
After the final round of group games in the Limerick SHC champions Doon and Na Piarsaigh have sealed direct progression to the semi-finals and cannot now play enough other unless they both reach the final.
Ballybrown, Kilmallock, Monaleen and Adare have all booked their place in the quarter-finals the draw for which will take place this evening. Ballybrown and Kilmallock will be in one bowl and Monaleen and Adare will be in the other bowl. Both quarter-finals will take place this weekend.
Ballybrown look like the pick of the quarter-final bunch after their 4-20 1-19 win over Kilmallock at the weekend. Ross Kenny, Mikey Kiely, Leigh Doolan and Barry Adams all hit the net for Ballybrown in their 10-point victory.
Longford
Clonguish will face Colmcille and Killoe Young Emmets will play Rathcline in the Longford SFC semi-finals. Of those four teams, Clonguish produced the most impressive performance of the quarter-final round when beating Dromard by 6-12 to 3-12. Michael Flynn was outstanding for the winners, scoring a first-half hat-trick that set them on their way to victory. In the other quarter-finals Rathcline defeated Carrickedmond by 3-9 to 1-13, Killoe Young Emmets defeated Mullinalaghta by 2-18 to 0-16, and Colmcille defeated reigning champions Abbeylara by 2-10 to 0-13.
Louth
Newtown Blues dumped St. Joseph’s out of the Anchor Tours Louth SFC with very impressive 2-18 to 1-7 victory. Midfielder Andy McDonnell scored 0-8 from midfield for the winners and was ably assisted on the scoreboard by Ciaran Downey who notched 1-4. St. Mochta’s have also been eliminated from the championship. They defeated St. Patrick’s by 0-16 to 0-15 but it’s St. Patrick’s who advance to the last eight thanks to a superior scoring difference. St. Mochta’s needed a two-point win to advance but the concession of a late free that was converted by Pats goalkeeper, Martin McEneaney, proved fatal.
Mayo
This year’s Mayo SHC Final will have a familiar look as the big two, Tooreen and Ballyhaunis, enjoyed comfortable semi-final wins. Tooreen beat St. Ciaran’s by 5-30 to 0-6 while Ballyhaunis beat Castlebar Mitchels by 0-19 to 0-7. Tooreen will be gunning for a fifth Mayo SHC title on the trot while Ballyhaunis seek to win a championship for the first time since 2020.
Meath
The draw for the Fairyhouse Steel Meath SFC semi-finals has pitted Skryne against Ratoath and Dunshaughlin against Summerhill. Defending champions Dunshaughlin made it through to the last four thanks to a 1-14 to 1-11 in over Wolfe Tones with Conor Gray scoring the crucial goal. A brace of goals by Cian Rogers helped Ratoath to a 2-18 to 0-17 win over Donaghmore/Ashbourne. In the other two quarter-finals Skryne defeated Ballinabrackey by 3-15 to 1-20 and Summerhill beat Trim by 2-15 to 0-11.
Monaghan
Inniskeen and Clontribret are straight through to the semi-finals of the Monaghan SFC after topping their respective groups. Inniskeen were already through before this weekend’s final round of group games and Clontibret joined them courtesy of a 2-20 to 0-19 win over Cremartin. In the quarter-fianls, Corduff will play Magheracloone and Latton will play Scotstown. Corduff will have a pep in their step after beating reigning champions Scotstown at the weekend. Seamus McEnaney’s team were 0-18 to 0-13 down with just seven minutes to play but Fergal Hanratty hit two two-point frees and Keith McEnaney bagged a goal for a great come from behind win.
Offaly
The Tullamore Court Hotel Offaly SFC is down to the knock-out rounds after the final round of group matches over the weekend. Edenderry’s 2-18 to 1-10 win over Ballycommon saw them join the already qualified Tullamore in the semi-finals where they will await the winners of the two quarter-finals – Rhode v Bracknagh and Shamrocks v Ferbane.
Roscommon
Oran are into a Kepak Roscommon SHC Final for the first time since 2016 after their semi-final win over St. Dominic’s set up a decider against reigning champions Four Roads. Two late points from Paddy Fallon and Cathal Kenny saw them overcome last year’s beaten finalists by 1-14 to 1-12. In the other semi-final, Four Roads enjoyed a comfortable enough 3-15 to 1-15 win over Pádraig Pearses. First-half goals from Liam Óg Coyle and Conor Morris gave them an early grip on the game, and when Morris scored his second of the game from a penalty early in the second half there was only going to be one winner.
Sligo
An Easkey team gunning for a sixth title in a row don’t look in the mood to release their tight-grip on the Davis’s Yeats Tavern Sligo Senior Hurling Championship as they defeated Naomh Eoin by 3-15 to 0-17 in Round 2 of the group phase. They’ve beaten Naomh Eoin in each of the last five finals they’ve won and there’s a good chance the two teams will meet in this year’s final again. In the weekend’s other game Coolera-Strandhill beat Western Gaels by 2-22 to 3-13.
Tipperary
The group phase of the FBD Insurance Tipperary Senior Football Championship concluded over the weekend and the two favourites – defending champions Loughmore-Castleiney and last year’s beaten finalists Clonmel Commericials – both made it three wins from three. Loughmore were pushed all the way by Moyle Rovers before winning out by 3-13 to 2-13 while Commercials enjoyed a comfortable 1-13 to 0-6 win over Grangemockler Ballyneale.
Tyrone
Trillick defeated Dungannon by 0-23 to 1-16 in what was arguably the best game of Round 1 in the Connollys of Moy Tyrone SFC. Lee Brennan was the main man for the winners. His late two-pointer sealed the victory and he finished with a personal tally of eight points for last year’s beaten finalists.
Danny Fullerton also had a weekend to remember. He scored 2-7 as Carrickmore booked their last eight spot with a 10-point win over Moortown.
A spectacular derby game saw Donaghmore eventually get the better of parish rivals Galbally by 3-24 to 1-24 while reigning champions Errigal Ciaran coasted to a 4-21 to 1-7 win over Ardboe.
There were also first round wins for Pomeroy over Gortin, Loughmacrory over Killyclogher, Omagh over Derrylaughan and Edendork over Dromore.
The draw for the quarter-finals is as follows:
Trillick v Pomeroy
Edendork v Carrickmore
Errigal Ciaran v Omagh
Donaghmore v Loughmacrory
Waterford
Rathgormack started the defence of their JJ Kavanagh and Sons Waterford SFC title with a solid 2-10 to 0-10 win over Gaultier. The two teams tipped to be their biggest challengers, Abbeyside-Ballinacourty and the Nire, went head to head with last year’s beaten finalists Abbeyside-Ballincourty coming out on top by 1-8 to 0-9.
Wexford
The match of the weekend in the Pettitt’s Wexford SHC was undoubtedly Oulart The Ballagh’s penalty shoot-out victory over Oylegate-Glenbrien. Such an outcome didn’t look likely when Oulart trailed by 2-12 to 1-6 at half-time but a stirring second-half comeback saw them draw level at 2-16 apiece by the end of normal time. A brilliant Tomás Dunne goal looked to have given an irresistible momentum in extra-time, but Oylegate-Glenbrien replied with one of their own from Jim White to draw level again and bring the game to a penalty shoot-out which Oulart won 3-0. The victory sees them progress to the quarter-finals where they will play holders St. Martin’s. The quarter-final draw in full is as follows:
Rathnure v. Glynn-Barntown
St. Martin’s v. Oulart-The Ballagh
Faythe Harriers v. Ferns St. Aidan’s
St. Anne’s v. Naomh Éanna.
Wicklow
The 2025 Boom and Platform Hire Wicklow SFC Final will be contested this year by Carnew Emmets and Baltinglass after their semi-final victories at the weekend over Arklow Geraldines-Ballymoney and Tinahely respectively.
Carnew won their semi-final by 0-15 to 1-11 and their progression to the final comes just a year on from winning the Intermediate Championship. Sean Murphy was the main man on the day, finishing with 0-7, while Ben Brosnan chipped in with 0-4.
Baltinglass needed extra-time before finally seeing off reigning champions Tinahely on a scoreline of 2-16 to 0-13. There was only a point between the teams at half-time in extra-time, but Baltinglass finished the much stronger team in the second-half of extra-time with a Christpher Heaslip goal the game-breaker.