The Ulster U21 Football Club tournament

The draw for the Ulster U21 Football Club tournament, the Paddy McLarnon Cup took place at Kickham’s Creggan Staffordstown Road club-rooms on Wednesday 27th December and despite the inclement weather representatives of six of the nine teams who will be taking part attended.

Present at the launch were Ulster chairman, Michael Hasson who was glowing in his praise of the competition and its’ organisation, Angela Callan from sponsors, Bank of Ireland and Brian Smith the Derry county chairman who has been a regular attendant at the launch.

Missing from the night’s proceedings were representatives from Cavan and Fermanagh whose club championships had not yet been completed and from Ghaoth Dobhair the Donegal champions who declined making the long journey. Since then, the team coming to represent Cavan is Southern Gaels who defeated Assan Gaels in their U21 County Final.

After a light hearted questions and answers session by resident M.C., Sean McAuley where he spoke to players and management from all the clubs present and asked them how they fancied their chances with most of them giving little away, the draw for the competition was made.

Present at the launch were this year’s Antrim champions, O’Donovan Rossa who are taking part for the first time and they will be first in action when they face Ghaoth Dobhair in a preliminary round game on the 13th January 2018 at 12.30. Fermanagh’s championship has not been completed but their winners will come up against Carryduff, the Down champions the same day at 2.15 in the first of the quarter-finals.

The next day, Sunday 14th January Crossmaglen, last year’s beaten finalist take on Cavan champions Southern Gaels at 12.30 followed by the third quarter-final at 2.30 where Lavey from Derry will come face to face with Galbally of Tyrone, both sides making a first appearance at the tournament. A week later Donnaghmoyne from Monaghan face the winners of Rossa and Ghaoth Dobhair in the last of the quarter finals.