Antrim hurling
SEAN McAfee’s two late goals for Cushendall saw the holders nab top spot in Group 1 off Loughgiel, who now face Ballycastle in a fortnight. Cushendall join Dunloy on opposite sides of the last four draw, the latter having impressed in racking up 5-23 against St John’s. The Johnnies face a quarter-final derby with Rossa, who claimed third place in their group with a ten-point win over Carey Faughs.
Quarter-finals (Sept 20/21): St John’s v Rossa, Loughgiel v Ballycastle
Semi-finalists: Cushendall, Dunloy
Antrim football
QUARTER-final weekend from Friday to Sunday, with four pretty decent looking games on paper. First up on Friday in Dunsilly is the meeting of holders Cargin and Pete McGrath’s Aghagallon side. The weekend ends in the same venue with the meeting of Portglenone and St Gall’s. In Cargin on Saturday, St Brigid’s will face Dunloy in a repeat of their meeting at the same stage last year, which the Biddies won. Creggan’s clash with Rossa at Hannahstown on Sunday completes a tasty bill.
Friday, 7.30pm, Dunsilly: Cargin v Aghagallon
Saturday, 5pm, Cargin: St Brigid’s v Dunloy
Sunday, 1pm, Lámh Dhearg: Creggan v Rossa; 4pm, Dunsilly: Portglenone v St Gall’s
Armagh football
LEAGUE champions Killeavy face a preliminary quarter-final derby against Mullaghbawn after the latter were beaten by Cullyhanna in the refixed game on Sunday. The four games will be played next weekend.
Preliminary quarter-finals: Killeavy v Mullaghbawn, St Peter’s v Culloville, Carrickcruppen v Granemore, Madden v Armagh Harps
Quarter-finalists: Maghery, Cullyhanna, Crossmaglen, Clann Eireann
Armagh hurling
KEADY made a raft of changes and fell to a 6-13 to 0-6 defeat to Middletown in the top-of-the-table clash that had very little riding on it last weekend. Middletown face Craobh Rua in the semi-finals with Keady taking on Derrynoose. Those games were scheduled to take place this weekend but with the football pushed back a week, there are no fixture dates confirmed yet.
Cavan football
ARVA survived to make the last eight with victory over Killygarry, though the 2024 All-Ireland junior champions’ reward is a meeting with Crosserlough. The holders held on to top spot despite being held to a draw by Kingscourt, who have served a bit of notice with some decent stuff in the group stage. They finished level on seven points with Crosserlough and Gowna. Vinny Corey’s side will face Cavan Gaels in the last eight, with Gowna meeting Ballyhaise and Mullahoran facing Ramor United. Just a week’s rest until those games.
Quarter-finals (Sept 13/14): Crosserlough v Arva, Gowna v Cavan Gaels, Kingscourt v Ballyhaise, Mullahoran v Ramor United
Derry hurling
BALLINASCREEN held off Banagher to secure top spot in Group B and a senior semi-final against Kevin Lynch’s, with Slaughtneil facing neighbours Swatragh on the other side as things panned out pretty much as expected. The Lynches overcame Na Magha to secure a last-four spot. The losers of the semi-finals will play for a spot in the intermediate final, with the winners taking a spot at that grade in Ulster. It’s now Lavey v Eoghan Rua and Na Magha v Banagher in the junior semi-finals, all in two weeks’ time.
Derry football
NO more chances now. Drumsurn have put their hand up for relegation, meaning those playoffs are cancelled and all eyes can fix firmly on the 12 remaining teams, eight of whom are in action this weekend. Two derbies headline the action, with loughshore rivals Newbridge and The Loup meeting on Saturday and north Derry neighbours Dungiven and Banagher on Sunday. Faughanvale and Kilrea are both capable of scalps against Bellaghy and Lavey.
(All games Owenbeg)
Saturday, 3pm: Faughanvale v Bellaghy; 4.45pm: Newbridge v The Loup
Sunday, 3pm: Kilrea v Lavey; 4.45pm: Banagher v Dungiven
Donegal football
GLENSWILLY will be hoping Michael Murphy is ready to return next weekend as they face the up-and-coming Four Masters in the preliminary quarter-finals. The Glen were well beaten in Kilcar, meaning their hosts go straight to the quarter-finals along with Gaoth Dobhair, Dungloe and St Michael’s. Holders St Eunan’s were four scores short of a weekend off so have to face Termon. Naomh Conaill haven’t set the world alight in the group, losing twice and squeezing past Ardara and Downings. They’ll face Killybegs now.
Preliminary quarter-finals (Sept 13/14): St Eunan’s v Termon, MacCumhaills v Downings, Four Masters v Glenswilly, Naomh Conaill v Killybegs
Down football
TWO of the county’s most successful clubs fell at the first hurdle over the weekend, with 11-time winners Bryansford and 10-time champions Mayobridge both eliminated with two defeats from two. Burren, Carryduff and Warrenpoint all go straight to the quarter-finals, where they’ll be joined by the winners of Monday night’s clash between Clonduff and Kilcoo. Ballyholland and Bredagh stayed alive by squeezing past Saul and Liatroim respectively.
2A results/fixture: Warrenpoint 1-15 Drumgath 1-12, Carryduff 3-17 Glenn 0-12, Loughinisland 1-12 Burren 0-23, Clonduff v Kilcoo
2B results: Downpatrick 4-14 Mayobridge 1-15, Ballyholland 0-17 Saul 1-13, Bredagh 3-14 Liatroim 2-15, Castlewellan 0-17 Bryansford 1-13
Fermanagh football
THE biggest shock in Ulster football so far this year as 2022 champions Enniskillen Gaels were knocked out with a game still to play in a four-team group from which three will qualify. Even though they still have Derrygonnelly to play, the Gaels’ defeat by Lisnaskea makes it impossible for them to leapfrog any of those ahead of them. The Harps squeezed past Belnaleck and sit top. Holders Erne Gaels were held to a second straight draw, this time by Ederney, and Declan Bonner’s side know they too would be eliminated if they were to lose their final game with Teemore and Kinawley were to beat Ederney. They all have this weekend off.
Monaghan football
INNISKEEN’S four-point win in Latton means John McEntee’s men are the first to qualify for the semi-finals, with a three-way battle ensuing in the other group. There’ll be plenty of interest when Corduff host Scotstown on Sunday. With Clontibret expected to see off Cremartin, Corduff topping the group looks a big ask but they’ll still relish a rattle at the holders. Either way, the three are safe, with Truagh and Cremartin out already. Ballybay, meanwhile, know that even victory over Latton might not save them. A Magheracloone win over Aughnamullen would tilt the odds heavily against Ballybay surviving.
Sunday, 5pm: Corduff v Scotstown, Cremartin v Clontibret, Ballybay v Latton, Aughnamullen v Magheracloone
Tyrone football
IN the words of Fabrizio Romano, here we go. Ulster champions Errigal Ciaran will fire the starting gun on Thursday in a really tricky opener against Ardboe in Dungannon. It’s Healy Park on Friday for the meeting of Killyclogher and a Loughmacrory team that many people are giving a real chance to this autumn. Having had a couple of epic championship meetings in recent years, Trillick and Dungannon are sure to entertain in Carrickmore on Saturday. Then you’ve Dromore v Edendork and Galbally v Donaghmore on Sunday. Plenty of knockout football to get your teeth into.
Thursday, 7.15pm, Dungannon: Errigal Ciaran v Ardboe
Friday, 6.45pm, Healy Park: Gortin v Pomeroy; 8.30pm: Killyclogher v Loughmacrory
Saturday, 6pm, Carrickmore: Dungannon v Trillick
Sunday, 1.30pm, Pomeroy: Omagh v Derrylaughan; 3.15pm, Pomeroy: Dromore v Edendork; 5.30pm, Dungannon: Carrickmore v Moortown; 7.15pm, Dungannon: Galbally v Donaghmore