Four Masters drawn to meet Dungiven in Ulster Minor Championship

By Michael McMullan

REIGNING champions Four Masters will face Dungiven when they put their fonaCAB Ulster Minor Football Championship title on the line in December.

It’s a repeat of the 2022 decider won by the Derry champions with a dramatic late finale.

The draw for the 42nd edition of the competition took place on Saturday afternoon and streamed live from in St Paul’s.

The back-to-back champions saw off Glenswilly to win a fourth successive title in Donegal.

Glen were the last team to win three-in-a-row in 2013, as part of their four successive titles.

Four Masters, Dungiven and Clontibret are the three teams in the draw who have won the competition before. Ardboe and Southern Gaels lost finals.

Glen needed extra-time to see off Southern Gaels in their fourth final with Ardboe having lost the 1998 decider to Sleacht Néill.

Ardboe have a Sleacht Néill man in their corner this year in the form of Derry selector Chrissy McKaigue.

The Tyrone champions will face Portglenone in the preliminary round.

The winners will meet another first-time team, Dromintee, in the quarter-finals.

Preliminary Round
Ardboe v Portglenone

Quarter-finals
1 – Southern Gaels v Bredagh
2 – Clontibret v Derrygonnelly
3 – Dungiven v Four Masters
4 – Dromintee v Prelim winners

The final will take place on the usual New Year’s Day slot.

The other dates will announce later after liaison with Ulster GAA and Ulster Schools.