Paul McGirr Cup: Portglenone face Clan na Gael on their return to Dromore

Paul McGirr Cup – Ulster U-16
Quarter-final
Clan na Gael v Portglenone
Sunday, 12noon, Dromore

THE first quarter-final of this year’s Paul McGirr Cup see’s Antrim champions Portglenone taking on Clan na Gael of Armagh.

It may have taken a replay in the Armagh county final, but Clan na Gael finally overcame Silverbridge to clinch their spot in Ulster.

They make their first return since 2019, where they enjoyed a tremendous campaign before finally succumbing to Burren in the final.

Clan na Gael are no strangers to Ulster glory, having won the Ulster senior club title three times, and they will enter this year’s Paul McGirr tournament in confident form with a team laced with talent.

Joint captains Benas Petronis and Emmet Doran put in a mountain of work for the Lurgan side, while Dylan McCord and JJ O’Hagan are two pacey players with an eye for a score.

Chief marksman Matthew McAdam was the hero in the Armagh final, his huge two-point free effort in the dying seconds from McAdam rescued a draw, and he followed that up in the replay with a superb 0-7 tally to secure the title for Paul O’Hagan’s side.

“We are delighted to be back at the Paul McGirr tournament for the second time in our history, having previously got to the final in 2019,” said O’Hagan.

“We have fantastic memories of our involvement that year and would be delighted to have a similar run this year. This team has overcome some tough battles to get this far, and we know Portglenone will provide us with another stern test. The lads will give it their all, and may the best team win”.

Portglenone Roger Casements are a club who are making huge inroads in Antrim football, and once again their U-16 team are leading the way, securing a second consecutive Antrim title to add to the U-18 crown they also claimed this year.

Their appearance in the Paul McGirr tournament last year was the first for the South West Antrim club, but with massive work going on at underage level, it looks like they will become regular visitors.

Featuring eight starters from last year’s team, there is no doubt they will be travelling to Gardrum Park in confident form and they will not be daunted by the task ahead.

Cillian McKenna and Frank McAleese provide a strong spine to a defence that proved difficult to penetrate throughout the Antrim championship.

Captain Tom Convery and Thomas Douthart are an impressive midfield pairing, with the powerful Convery in particular no stranger to the scoreboard. Up front livewire forwards Conor Burns and Conor McKeever will prove a handful for the Clan Na Gael defence.

Roger Casement’s manager Niall Kelly is confident his teams experience will stand his side in good stead.

“We at Roger Casements are delighted to be attending the Paul McGirr tournament once again,” said Kelly.

“We look forward to playing the Armagh county champions, Clan na Gael, who will be tough opposition. We hope our players can showcase their skills and make our community proud.”

2012 was the last time an Antrim team secured the coveted Paul McGirr title, but Portglenone certainly look like a team with the talent to take the title back to the banks of the Bann.

The towering Convery could give them the edge in the midfield battle and provide the platform needed to progress to the semi-finals.

Clan na Gael, however, will be determined to go one better than their 2019 side, but the experience of last year’s campaign may just give the Antrim men the edge.