A busy weekend of action ahead.
Under 21 ‘B’ Championship Quarter-finals
Malin v Carndonagh
Date: Saturday, November 14
Time: 1pm
Venue: Connolly Park
This should be a tasty derby at Connolly Park.
Carn won the big semi-final in the Intermediate Championship between the teams in September, and Malin will be hurting from that.
The Connolly Park side have a good team and have already recorded wins over Glenfin and Buncrana, while they also drew with Naomh Columba.
Sonny Bonner, Mac McLaughlin and Ciaran O’Kane are all important players for Malin.
Carndonagh have had a remarkable championship in that they drew all three of their games with Aodh Ruadh, Kilcar and Cloughaneely.
County Under 20 Kalvin McLaughlin is their star man while Sean O’Carroll and Odhran O’Donnell are also good players.
It’s likely to be tight but Carn might just claim the bragging rights once again.
Verdict: Carndonagh
Cloughaneely v Kilcar
Date: Sunday, November 15
Time: 1pm
Venue: Páirc Naomh Fionnan
Cloughaneely won the Minor Division 2 title in 2023 so they should be real contenders for this Under 21 crown.
County Under 20 player Donnachadh Ó Baoighill is their star man, while Jack Gallagher, Jamie McGeever, and Patrick Doohan have also played regularly for their senior side this season.
Cloughaneely drew two of their three group matches and defeated Naomh Columba so they are accustomed to tight matches at this stage.
Kilcar won the Under 21 ‘C’ title last season and have handled the step up reasonably well.
They lost narrowly to Muff (who have this week pulled out of the competition to concentrate on the Ulster Intermediate Championship), drew with Carn but claimed a comfortable win over Glenfin.
Jack Hegarty is Kilcar’s main man and he is ably supported by Michael Gallagher, Odhran Hegarty and Liam McLaughlin.
Home advantage should give Cloughaneely an edge in this encounter.
Verdict: Cloughaneely
Under 21 ‘C’ Championship
Burt v Killybegs
Date: Saturday, November 14
Time: 1pm
Venue: Hibernian Park
This is the second time these sides have met in this year’s championship.
Killybegs won the first meeting by 3-10 to 2-7 at Eamonn Byrne Memorial Park.
The Fishermen then lost to Bundoran before drawing with Naomh BridPettigo. Edward McHugh, Eoin Mulligan and Gavin Doherty are all crucial players for Killybegs.
Burt have bounced back impressively since that setback and made light work of Urris and Milford.
Teenager Anton Doherty has looked the part at midfield, while Caolan McKinney, Leo Kelly, and Darragh Donaghey are all leaders for Mel O’Donnell’s side.
Burt will look forward to another crack at Killybegs and they should have the quality to come through.
Verdict: Burt
St Naul’s v Urris
Date: Saturday, November 14
Time: 1pm
Venue: Gerard Gallagher Memorial Park
Both of these teams come into this quarter-final in contrasting positions.
St Naul’s were the only team to win all three of their group matches, while Urris only won one game.
Urris were actually outside the last eight last weekend but were bumped up as Naomh Muire didn’t field in one of their matches and that led to some fresh calculations for the CCC.
Urris’ form has been quite peculiar as they had a lot of Under 21 players in their side that won the Junior crown, while county minors Tadhg McDaid and Danny Óg Cooney are also eligible.
St Naul’s had to dig deep to beat Fanad last week and Darragh Reilly, Oisin Mogan and Tommy Friel are all influential players.
However, if Urris can get their best players on the bus for this long trip, they could secure a spot in the semi-final.
Verdict: Urris
Letterkenny Gaels v Red Hughs
Date: Sunday, November 15
Time: 2pm
Venue: Páirc Aodh Rua
This has the makings of a good game at the Cross.
Letterkenny Gaels lose their opener but have since bounced back with two wins.
Callum McGilloway and Cathal Doherty had solid breakthrough years at senior level, while Jack Keys and Mark Patterson will be key to their cause.
Red Hughs were beaten in last year’s ‘C’ Final and would love to get back to that stage once again.
They got the better of Milford and Naomh Muire but were off the pace against St Michael’s.
However, they do have a good chunk of last year’s team including Cathair Browne, Liam Carlin and Conor Gallagher, while county minor Mark Wilkinson is now eligible.
Red Hughs might just have enough to win a tight contest.
Verdict: Red Hughs
St Michael’s v Realt na Mara
Date: Sunday, November 15
Time: 2pm
Venue: The Bridge
St Michael’s haven’t made much of an impression at Under 21 level in recent seasons but they have a good team this term.
They got the better of Fanad and Red Hughs and lost narrowly against Letterkenny Gaels when they weren’t at full strength.
Max Roarty has been excellent so far in this campaign, while Seamus Ferry and Fionn Chernick impressed for their senior side this season.
Realt na Mara were beaten by Milford and Naomh Muire who both failed to make the last eight but one victory over Killybegs saw them get through.
Bundoran had a good run in the Under 21 ‘D’ section last season and they will need big displays from Ryan Barrett and Adam McGloin.
However, it would be a surprise if St Michael’s don’t make the last four.
Verdict: St Michael’s
Under 21 E Cup
There are two games in the Under 21 E Cup this weekend.
However, with only two teams progressing through from a five-team group, the finalists are already known. Termon and Naomh Conaill will meet in the Burn Road on Saturday at 1pm but as both have lost to Sean MacCumhaills, they can’t make it through.
Glenswilly and MacCumhaills are due to meet in Páirc Naomh Columba on Saturday and will also square off in the final.
