'It's winner takes all in the final' - Four Masters ace Conor McCahill

If you wandered into the Magherafelt minor dressing room and posed a simple question — who would they most like to meet in the Ulster minor club championship? — you’d get the same answer in unison. Four Masters . . . the reigning Ulster champions.

Rewind to December 2023 in the quarter-final of the St Paul's tournament when these two teams clash. With the clock showing 59.30 Four Masters trailed the Derry champions by five points (0-13 to 0-8) but by the time the referee blew the final whistle with almost 68 minutes played, the Donegal Town boys were winners by two.

Kevin Muldoon’s ingenuity set the stage for Tiarnan McBride to win a penalty, which Muldoon duly hammered home in the 62nd minute. Three minutes later, Turlough Carr’s relentless work paid off with a perfectly weighted long ball. McBride, again the man of the moment, flicked it to the net. One-point lead. Cue pandemonium.

And now, following the Donegal Town club's 1-12 to 0-8 point win over Cookstown Fr Rock's on Thursday, these two teams will meet once again but this time on New Year's Day in the provincial decider.

Conor McCahill was one of the leading figures in the semi-final against the Tyrone champions hitting 0-5 points from corner-forward, and he knows his side will face a challenge against a team out for revenge.

"To be honest, they can't wait and we can't wait so it'll be the same buzz for both teams and the winner takes all," McCahill admitted following the final whistle in his side's semi-final win on St Stephen's Day.

"They think they got robbed (last year), we thought we did well. There are two emotions in it and to be fair they are a brilliant side and we can't fault that, so, we just can't wait for this final."

McCahill, a Donegal county minor, is no stranger to the big stage, having been named Man of the Match in last year’s final. His form hasn’t wavered since, with his sharpness in Belfast on Thursday proving critical to Four Masters’ semi-final win.

"Yeah it's good to be back on form, but to be fair to the Cookstown defence they were good and they kept us well penned in, but I can't fault the boys beside me either, they gave me the ball and I have to try and make the most of it," McCahill said.

"You have to be patient most of the time, but the boys worked it so well and they were so patient, and when we got the ball we made amends of it. 

"I was so frustrated with not getting the ball so when I did, I thought that I may as well try and take him on and make something of it because you could see the scoreline, it was low enough, but I was glad that I could contribute."

As for the prospect of stepping into history—becoming the first Donegal team to reach three consecutive Ulster finals — McCahill is savouring the moment.

"I can't wait, it's special, especially at Christmas time when all the family comes up. It gives us something to do over Christmas too. It passes the time you could say," he added.