THE 2014 Paul McGirr Ulster U16 Club Champions tournament begins this weekend in Gardrum Park, Dromore with a double-header on Saturday.
Cavan champions Crosserlough take on Fermanagh's Derrygonnelly Harps in the preliminary round game at 2.30pm and then Down's Burren face Armagh's Clann Eireann at 4.30pm. With Cavan prominent at underage level in Ulster, the Crosserlough boys will be fancying their chances of progressing to the latter stages of the competition. Tom Boylan's team is unbeaten in four years and have six players on the county development squad. "We are really looking forward to playing in this tournament," said Boylan. "It will be a true test of the team since we will be coming up against the best in Ulster."
With Patrick O'Reilly in fine form at full-back and a strong midfield pairing of Owen Smith and Tomas Keaney, the Derrygonnelly boys will have to be at their best if they are to cope with the Crosserlough threat.
But this is a talented Harps team, coached by Peter Jones and Anthony Greene, that has become accustomed to success. "It is a great honour for Derrygonnelly Harps to be representing their club and county in this well-established and well-run competition," said Jones. "These boys are really looking forward to it and testing themselves against the champions of another county will be an experience in itself."
Antrim's champions St Brigid's will be interested spectators as they await the winners in the quarter-final.
The second game is the tie of the round between Burren and Clann Eireann. Burren feature several of the squad who last week won the Down county minor title and also won the All-Ireland Division Two Feile title last year.
Manager Jimmy McAlinden said:
"It is a great honour for Burren to represent Down and we are delighted to have the opportunity to play against the top U16 teams in Ulster. "It is a wonderful tournament and we wish the Spirit of Paul McGirr Trust continued success."
Meanwhile, Clann Eireann are managed by Seamus McAtavey and the Lurgan boys are undefeated this year having won the Armagh league and dethroned reigning Ulster U16 champions Crossmaglen in the championship final by 1-13 to 1-7. McAtavey said: "The Clann Eireann players and management are delighted to have this opportunity to represent our club and county. "I hope that the game itself reflects all that is best about underage football in Ulster.''
Clann Eireann are ably led by captain Ryan Owens at centre-back and will be hoping from big performances from midfielder Barry McCambridge and forward Conor McConville.
All proceeds from the tournament will go to The Spirit Of Paul McGirr Trust which does work for the under-privileged in Lusaka, Zambia.