Under-21 A Championship reaches knockout stage this weekend

The Under-21 A Championship has reached the knockout stages, with the quarter-finals taking place this weekend.

After three games each, ten teams have become eight, with Buncrana and Dungloe dropping out.

The top four teams host the next four in the standings, with first against eighth, second hosting seventh, et cetera.

Glenswilly vs Gaoth Dobhair 

Arguably, the game of the weekend. Two teams that will have high aspirations of winning the competition will meet in Glenswilly.

The pair met in the semi-final stage last season, Glenswilly putting an end to Gaoth Dobhair’s three-in-a-row hopes, with the Magheragallon side winning a tense decider between these two in 2023.

The hosts have been value for money in all three games so far, edging Naomh Conaill by a point at home in a nine goal thriller, before another win by the minimum against Sean MacCumhaills.

But a last kick of the game score in the Burn Road meant they were on the losing end of a narrow defeat at the weekend.

Jamie McCauley, Liam McGinley, Donal Gallagher, Pauric Devine and Mark Bonner have all got a wealth of senior experience, while Shane Tinney, Daithi Gildea and Eoghan Scott have been in good scoring form all season.

For Gaoth Dobhair, a win and draw over Dungloe and St Eunan’s had them guaranteed a top eight spot, but defeat to Four Masters means they won’t have the comfort of a quarter-final in Magheragallon.

County U-20s Pádraig Mac Giolla Bhríde, Cathal Ó Gallchóir and Jordi Gribben give them a solid defence, along with Adam Mac Íomhair and Colm Ó Dochartaigh in midfield.

Oisin Ó Duibhír, Mairtin Mac Giolla Chomhaill and Crónán Mac Phaidín are lively in attack and will provide for a good contest.

Verdict: Glenswilly

Naomh Conaill vs St Eunan’s

A repeat of Saturday’s round three meeting, Noamh Conaill host St Eunan’s.

The home side won by 1-12 to 1-5 in Glenties to take them on to four points after also beating Dungloe, and they look to be gaining momentum since their defeat to Glenswilly.

Shea Malone, Max Campbell and Finnbarr Roarty were all missing for Saturday’s meeting as they were rested for the Ulster quarter-final against Scotstown the following day, and they will provide a massive boost to the already threatening attack that includes Tiernan Ward, and Danny Brown.

St Eunan’s took a narrow win over Aodh Ruadh and impressed in drawing away to Gaoth Dobhair to make the last eight, but will need a big improvement to get through this weekend.

Goalkeeper Fintan Doherty got a good run out in Division 1 for the seniors, while Luke McGuinness, Philip Doherty and Noah Barrett also got experience in the league and will look to bring the fight for the Letterkenny men.

Verdict: Naomh Conaill

Termon vs Aodh Ruadh

Termon topped the standings with three wins from three, and as the only unbeaten side.

Led by some great individual skill by Ciaran Cassidy, and good shooting from Oisin Harkin and Shea Boyle, they took a narrow win over neighbours Glenswilly last Saturday, following on from wins against Four Masters and Buncrana.

They will welcome Aodh Ruadh to the Burn Road, who took a convincing win over Buncrana in their final match to take their first points and sneak into the top eight.

Defeats against St Eunan’s and a big loss against Four Masters left them joint bottom with Buncrana on the final weekend, but a 6-19 to 0-7 win over the Scarvey men.

Senior star Jack Gallagher led the way with 3-4, while county minor Joe Gibbions fired in two goals for the Fr Tierney Park men.

The Ballyshannon side will take a boost from that win, but they will need to up their performance even further if they are to knock out a Termon side that have typically been very strong in this competition in recent years.

Verdict: Termon

Four Masters vs Sean MacCumhaills

Last year’s champions will be fancied to go all the way once again with an almost identical squad.

With only Senan Quinn overage from last year’s starting side, there will be another big push on for the side who recently won four-in-a-row at minor level.

Lewis McCaughan, David Monaghan, Callum McCrea, Conor Reid, Kevin Muldoon, Conor McCahill and Turlough Carr are all part of the spine of those teams, who all started the Senior championship semi-final this year against Naomh Conaill as this coming-of-age side are beginning to raise the ceiling for how far they can go.

Sean MacCumhaills won the last non-Four Masters winning minor title in 2021, and a lot of that team are coming into their final year at this level now.

A big opening win over Buncrana got them through to the quarters, but one point defeats to Glenswilly and Dungloe will have left them disappointed to not have a home draw.

Heavy scorers and senior men Kevin McCormack and Conor McGinty have missed matches through injury and would be a huge lift for this weekend if they could return, but Thomas McNulty has been scoring well and county Under-20 captain Sean Martin has shown his class all season and will look to lead the charge.

Verdict: Four Masters