Four Masters set to defend Ulster minor title with opening clash against Scotstown

Four Masters are set to defend their Ulster minor crown this winter in the opening round against Scotstown of Monaghan following the draw held in St Paul’s last Saturday where players and management from Donegal Town were in attendance.  

Eight of the nine county champions were present for the draw of the 41st edition of the Ulster club minor tournament with the Fermanagh final playing out simultaneously as Irvinestown completed the line-up with a 3-8 to 0-11 win over Derrygonnelly. 

The three-in-a-row Donegal minor champions Four Masters won the Jimmy McConville Cup on New Year's Day earlier this season and they are back, hoping to be the first team to go back-to-back in defending the provincial championship since Glen did it over a decade ago. 

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“Any team you get up here you’re expecting a tough game but I suppose we’ll have a bit of a target on our backs because we won it last year, but we’ve been used to that in Donegal and we’ll be expecting the same up here but it’s good to be back and we’ll be giving it a good go,” Four Masters captain Callum McCrea said. 

Over the years, the tournament has seen some emerging stars in action that have gone on to play for their county at senior level and have won All-Ireland glory, and undoubtedly, some of those who will compete this year will go onto become household names. 

The tournament will begin a little earlier this year with the opening weekend slated for November 24/25 and will then take a break to allow for Ulster Colleges competition, but as usual, there will be a traditional St Stephen's Day semi-final and New Year's Day final. 

The competition returns to the U-18 this year in line with the GAA reverting the minor grade back to its traditional form and in another return, all nine county champions will take part after there was no Tyrone representation in 2023 due to an appeal in their own championship. 

Ulster Minor Club Football Tournament draw 

Preliminary round: 
Mayobridge (Down) v Kingscourt (Cavan) 

Quarter-finals: 
St Brigid's (Antrim) v O'Donovan Rossa, Magherafelt (Derry)
Irvinestown (Fermanagh) v Clann Éireann (Armagh)
Scotstown (Monaghan) v Four Masters (Donegal)
Fr Rock's, Cookstown (Tyrone) v Prelim winners.