Provincial Pride

All-Ireland Minor Champions: Derry

NOT only did Derry retain their All-Ireland Minor crown, they did so with a victory over fellow Ulstermen Armagh in last weekend’s All-Ireland final showdown in Omagh. Damian McErlain’s record as minor manager of Derry across two separate stints at the helm speaks for itself, though they didn’t have it all their own way in their third championship outing of the campaign against a determined Armagh side. Still, spearheaded by their inspirational captain James Sargent, they got their hands on the Tom Markham Cup for the third time in five years. The future’s bright, the future’s Derry? That leads us into…

All-Ireland U-20 Champions: Tyrone

TYRONE claimed their second All-Ireland U-20 title in three years with a stunning victory over Kerry in Portlaoise on a scoreline of 1-20 to 1-14. It was evident from the early stages that Tyrone were the more well-rounded team and the final scoreline was if anything, flattering to the Kingdom. Paul Devlin’s side faced their stiffest challenges in Ulster and needed penalties to get the better of Derry in a memorable provincial showdown. Already four members of the team have been drafted into the senior panel – namely captain Michael Rafferty, talented forward Eoin McElholm, official U-20 Footballer of the Year Shea O’Hare and Ronan Cassidy, who produced his best performance of the campaign on All-Ireland final day.

All-Ireland SFC Club Champions: Glen

IT’S a long road back to the top. Glen suffered All-Ireland final heartache against Kilmacud Crokes in early 2023, and what’s without delving into the post-match controversy when it emerged that the Dublin titans had an extra player on the pitch in the last play of the game. There was only one thing for it – Glen would dust themselves down and go again. They retained their Ulster Championship title, gained sweet revenge against Kilmacud Crokes in a crazy All-Ireland semi-final clash in the Newry fog and then produced a stirring comeback in the All-Ireland final showdown against a gallant St Brigid’s team. A stunning Conor Glass goal set in motion their push to the finish line on a day that will never be forgotten around Maghera.

All-Ireland IFC Club Champions: Cullyhanna

ST Pat’s, Cullyhanna became the first team from the Orchard County to come out on top of the All-Ireland Intermediate champions with a hard-fought victory over Cork side Cill na Martra. Aidan Nugent’s first-half goal proved decisive on a day where their opponents left their shooting boots at home, racking up a staggering 16 wides. Let that take nothing away from St Patrick’s, who were the composed side, and the winning speech from their inspirational captain Pearse Casey was one for the ages.

All-Ireland JFC Club Champions: Arva

FROM early doors, it didn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that Arva had every chance of going deep in the race for All-Ireland honours. They blitzed their way through Ulster and the All-Ireland series en route to the final (they always had at least a margin of two goals at the final whistle separating themselves from their vanquished opposition) but it was never going to be quite so straightforward against Kerry outside Listowel in the final. The first half was hotly contested, but Arva, spurred on by their captain fantastic Ciaran Brady, summoned a massive effort after the break to land All-Ireland honours.

Sigerson Cup: Ulster University

STAR-STUDDED Ulster University teams have sometimes, dare we say it, flattered to deceive in the prestigious Sigerson Cup competition, but on this occasion they certainly lived up to their billing with a superlative performance in the final against UCD, blitzing the Dublin-based opposition with three first-half goals. Their star performer was a certain Darragh Canavan, but they were by no means a one-man show and others to impress throughout the campaign were Niall Loughlin, Oisin McCann, Ben McCarron and Darragh’s younger brother Ruairi.

Hogan Cup: Omagh CBS

BACK-TO-BACK Hogan Cup champions. It nearly says all that needs to be said about Tyrone school Omagh CBS, who swatted aside Kerry school Mercy Mounthawk on All-Ireland final day at Croke Park. Managed by Ciaran McBride and Diarmaid McNulty (who was also involved in Tyrone’s All-Ireland U-20 winning success), the ‘Brothers’ retained their MacRory Cup title in an all-Tyrone showdown against St Patrick’s Academy, Dungannon. They really threw off the shackles on the national stage and lads like captain Callum Daly, Ruairi McCullagh, Nathan Farry deservedly picked up their second Hogan Cup medal.