St Eunan's drawn in the preliminary round of Ulster U16 Championship

St Eunan’s Under-16s have learned their opponents in the 2026 Paul McGirr Ulster U16 Club Championship.

The draw took place on Friday night in the Tyrone GAA Centre of Excellence in Garvaghy as Ulster GAA Chairman Michael Geoghegan officially launched the tournament, which brings together the U16 club champions from all nine Ulster counties in pursuit of the coveted provincial title.

And the Black and Amber have been drawn in the preliminary round, where they will travel to Dromore to face Clan na Gael from Armagh.

Should they win the preliminary, they will then face the Fermanagh Champions in the quarter-final, with the Fermanagh final not taking place until Wednesday, November 18.

St Eunan’s qualified after a brilliant 3-17 to 0-12 win over Gaoth Dobhair in Convoy in last month’s county final, with forward Sam Tourish scoring 2-6 in the win.

Over the years, the competition has established itself as a significant stepping stone for many of Ulster GAA’s leading players, with a host of household names having graced Gardrum Park in their quest for the prestigious Ulster Club title. Among those who have featured in recent years are current inter-county stars Odhrán Murdock, Darragh Canavan, Conor Glass, Oisín and Rian O’Neill, Conor and Shane O’Donnell, and Conor Turbitt.

One of the guest speakers on the evening was former Ulster GAA Chairman and President Ciarán McLaughlin, who provided those in attendance with a fascinating insight into the outstanding work being carried out by the Spirit of Paul McGirr Trust.

Drawing on his recent experience, Ciarán spoke about a visit to the Trust’s remarkable complex in Lusaka, Zambia, alongside a group of 15 children from Strabane Sigersons GAA Club. During their two-week stay, the group helped establish a library at the Tyrone school supported by the Trust, while also coaching, educating and engaging with the local underprivileged children who attend the school. His account provided a powerful illustration of the Trust’s continued commitment to improving the lives and opportunities of young people far beyond our own shores.

A special presentation was also made during the launch, with the McDonald family presenting a donation of £10,000 to Michael McGirr on behalf of the Trust. The generous contribution was raised through a tractor run held in memory of their son Pádraig, who tragically lost his life in a road traffic collision late last year. A further cheque for £8,500 was presented by Dromore GFC, representing proceeds from last year's tournament. Both donations are a wonderful reflection of the generosity and community spirit that continue to underpin the legacy of Paul McGirr.

The tournament was first established in 1999 by Dromore St Dympna’s GFC in memory of Paul, who tragically lost his life following a collision while scoring a goal for Tyrone minors in an Ulster Championship fixture against Armagh.

Since its inception, the competition has grown into one of the most respected and eagerly anticipated underage club tournaments in the GAA calendar, while continuing to honour Paul's memory and support the invaluable work of the Trust.

The 2026 competition gets underway next Saturday, November 14, with the preliminary round fixture. The eagerly awaited draw, conducted by Ulster GAA Chairman Michael Geoghegan and tournament sponsor Adrian O’Neill, is as follows:

Preliminary Round

Clan na Gael (Armagh) v St Eunan’s (Donegal)

Quarter-Finals

St Brigid’s (Antrim) v Castleblayney Faughs (Monaghan)

Burren (Down) v Killygarry (Cavan)

Omagh (Tyrone) v Magherafelt O’Donovan Rossa (Derry)

Preliminary Round Winners v Fermanagh Champions

The Paul McGirr Ulster U16 Club Championship is about much more than football. It is a celebration of young talent, community spirit and the enduring legacy of a young man whose memory continues to inspire. Importantly, all proceeds from the tournament go directly to the Spirit of Paul McGirr Trust, helping to sustain its remarkable work and make a lasting difference to the lives of young people in Zambia.