Leadon Timber Frames Ulster Minor Hurling Tournament Cup semi-finals
Saturday November 11: 2pm
Dunloy (Antrim) v Kevin Lynch’s (Derry)
Sunday November 12: 1pm
Ballycran (Down) v Éire Óg Carrickmore (Tyrone)
Quite a few players involved in this weekend’s semi-finals of the Leadon Timber Frames Ulster Minor Hurling Tournament hosted by Ballinascreen have gone through a hectic schedule of games in recent months.
Apart from their own county minor championship, there have been under 21 championships in both codes, some involved in club senior championship games and, of course, the Mageean Cup with some of the winning St Patrick’s Maghera team already knee deep in MacRory Cup preparation.
Three of the Maghera boys – Richie Mullan, Tiarnan McHugh and Niall McNicholl – were also coming off a long campaign with Derry minor footballers that ended in defeat in the final in Croke Park in September.
All three and tigerish centre-forward Ruairí Rafferty made big contributions as St Patrick’s Maghera won the Mageean Cup a fortnight ago with Mullan also picking up the Player of the Match award.
Opponents Dunloy have had plenty of football action since eclipsing a third successive Antrim minor title a month ago with a 1-16 to 0-8 victory over Naomh Pádraig – and that despite a red card for half-back Paddy Graffin after just 19 minutes of play.
The Cúchulainn’s success is all the more remarkable given that they lost ace score-getter Seaan Elliott to a leg injury shortly after he helped Antrim win their Division of the Celtic Challenge Cup in August.
Still a minor next year, Elliott is a big loss, but it has allowed Ronan Molloy to shine on frees and the midfielder fired home 0-10 in the county final.
Ulster PP Camogie: Medallion Shield Junior final
Sunday 2pm in Pearse Óg Armagh
St Mary’s, Clady v Sacred Heart, Newry
These two schools met last season in the Ulster PP schools’ Under 16 decider when St Mary’s, Clady came through narrowly on a 3-8 to 2-6 score-line after a thrilling game of camogie.
Many of the same personnel return to contest the Medallion Shield Junior final and, once again, this should be a very competitive provincial final with an All-Ireland semi-final spot now at stake.
The seven points that Roisin Gallagher nailed in last year’s final contributed a lot to the Clady victory.
She is a huge presence for her team as are Bellaghy team-mates Temair McCann, Teresa McErlean and Roisin Loughlin, who scored the three goals last year.
Sacred Heart also beat Ballyjamesduff along with Newry neighbours Our Lady’s and St Louis Kilkeel in the league section and then a 7-7 to 2-7 semi-final win over St Patrick’s Academy that was a lot tougher than the score-line suggests.
Captain Johnelle Barr and her twin sister Shannon have impressed to date in the central defensive positions with good support from Chloe McConville, Caitlin Armstrong, Ella Gribben, Grace Cunningham, Grace McShane and Molly Smyth, all of whom have inter-county experience.
Sacred Heart: E Reilly, E Mullen, S Barr, H Duffy, R McConville, J Barr, E Gribben, G Cunningham, G McShane, C McConville, C Armstrong, O McCusker, C Campbell, M Smyth, S Quinn
Subs: G Clarke, C Gorman, A Mulholland, A Woods, A Barrett, S McEvoy, A Magee, C McDonnell, K Murphy
St Mary’s, Clady: E Hardin, S McAtamney, T McCann, E Convery, M McIlvar, T McErlean, M Mooney, S O’Neill, M Mullan, A Cartmill, R Gallagher, A Marron, S O’Neill, R Loughlin, B O’Neill
Subs: C O’Kane, E Graham, R Draine, E O’Neill, A O’Neill, E O’Neill, E Cassidy, C O’Hagan
NB – there are two subs on Clady team – both called Eimear O’Neill
