We’re down to the last four teams in the Donegal Under 21 ‘A’ Championship and there should be two good games over the weekend.
The favourites all came through the quarter-finals last weekend although apart from Four Masters, the other three all had challenges on the way.
Glenswilly started slowly against Gaoth Dobhair but came good in the second half to win.
That now sets up a semi-final with Four Masters in what is a repeat of last year’s Under 21 decider.
The clubs have met this year in the Under 16 and Minor Finals and Masters have won all of those big games.
It’s funny how it works when teams are coming up through the ranks and they keep running into one club.
I’m sure Glenswilly would love to beat them but they know it won’t be easy.
Four Masters made light work of Sean MacCumhaills, and they only introduced Conor McCahill at half-time and Thomas Lenehan didn’t play at all.
Both of those players have been in good form and it would be a surprise if they are not brought in to start this week.
Interestingly, the bulk of both teams are still underage for next season which is unusual.
Glenswilly will need to keep out the goals and produce a huge performance.
That’s possible but Four Masters just seem to have that extra bit of quality on the other teams and I think they will advance to the final.
Termon take on Naomh Conaill in the second semi-final on Sunday and it has the makings of a good game.
Termon has been playing without Cian McMenamin and he would be their main man if fit.
However, they have been motoring nicely without him, even if they needed extra-time to take out Aodh Ruadh last week.
Naomh Conaill were under the pump against St Eunan’s last week too but finished strongly.
Naomh Conaill will be looking to Young Footballer of the Year, Finnbarr Roarty to lead the way for them.
Max Campbell and Shea Malone have also had good seasons and there is strength in every line of the pitch for Naomh Conaill.
Termon can call upon Oisin Harkin, John James Sweeney, Patrick Fegan and Cormac Gallagher who all stood out for their senior team this season.
I’m sure they will have a plan to stop Finnbarr’s marauding runs and they will want to keep Max quiet as well.
If they can do that then they will be in with a great chance of winning the match.
Termon have momentum and that’s worth plenty to a team.
But in cold and heavy conditions, I feel that Naomh Conaill might just have too much power for the men from the Burn Road.
Ulster Club
It’s a big weekend for Erne Gaels in the Ulster Club Championship as we prepare to take on Kilcoo in the semi-finals.
It’s been a great season so far as we retained the Fermanagh championship and then got the better of Kingscourt two weeks ago.
We now face Kilcoo and that will be a big step up for us.
They have won 13 of the last 14 Down championships and they know the Ulster Club scene very well.
Kilcoo won the All-Ireland club title in 2022, and they reached the provincial final last year so that shows you what we’re up against.
I’ve had a brilliant two years with Belleek and have got to meet so many great GAA people.
We have made steady progress and are among the 14 senior clubs still going in the country which is remarkable.
Unfortunately for us, we will not be at full-strength this week.
One of our key forwards, Tommy McCaffrey, is getting married on Friday in Rome.
We tried our best to get our game moved to Sunday so that we might at least get some of the boys home but it wasn’t to be.
It’s a real pity for the team and for Tommy, who has given great service down through the years.
He’s just unfortunate that the biggest day of his life happens to coincide with the biggest match of his life.
It’s going to be a huge challenge especially when we are depleted but I’m sure the boys will give it everything they have and you never know how it will go.
Looking at the other semi-final, Scotstown were very impressive against Naomh Conaill and are favourites to beat Newbridge.
However, it won’t be an easy game for Scotstown as the Derry champions are full of legs, with the Dohertys and McGrogans pushing them on.
MacRory Cup
It was great to see a big MacRory Cup game played in Donegal last week.
For many years, I bemoaned our lack of involvement at the top end of schools football in Ulster.
However, Abbey Vocational School and Southwest Donegal are both in the competition again this year and they squared off last Friday in Ardara.
Southwest have lost pretty much all their players from last year apart from Shane Sweeney and Cathal Mac Aoidh.
They were well beaten in their opener against Our Lady’s Castleblayney but put in a much better display against Abbey.
With the likes of Conor McCahill, Tomas Carr, and Lewis McCaughan all still at school, I felt Abbey would have too much.
However, the Donegal Town boys were pushed all the way and just came through by a point.
Southwest were without a couple of players that played county minors last year so they will take positives but will want to make sure and win their next match with Enniskillen.
Abbey are on course to top the group and will think they can go deep in the MacRory Cup this year.
Some of the players involved will be in big demand over the coming months but others maybe won’t be and getting good games and training will help them.
Karl Lacey is in as Donegal minor manager next season and Gary Boyle is back with the Under 20s and I’d imagine they are both happy to get players exposed to that high level of football.
