Local teams gear up for Ulster venture

Maitiú Monaghan

Scotstown:

David McCague's side go into the Ulster Senior Club Championship this season as the favourites to win the competition outright. However, the reigning champions have their work cut out for them to win in an exceptionally difficult field this year.

The Monaghan Champions' campaign begins next weekend with a home tie against the Derry champions Magherafelt next Sunday, November 8, at St. Tiernach's Park.

Traditionally, whoever comes out of Derry have been a strong outfit. Magherafelt won their final last Sunday, giving the Monaghan side an extra week to prepare for the quarter-final tie.

Last season felt like a real milestone for Scotstown, as they finally got over the line in Ulster, beating rivals Kilcoo in a wet and windy final.

The addition of young players like Max Maguire, Tommy Mallen, and Donnochda Connolly added a new dimension to Scotstown's play as they ventured out of Monaghan last year. Those talents are a year older and wiser, as are veterans Darren Hughes, Damien McArdle, Jack McCarron, and Rory Beggan.

Should they get over the line in the first round, Scotstown would play the winners of Erne Gaels (Fermanagh) and St. Eunan's (Donegal) in the semi-final.

Gowna:

The recent history of Cavan side's in the Ulster Club Championship is poor- to put it mildly. However, there have been false dawns and missed opportunities in recent years.

Vinny Corey's Gowna side are on the 'easier' side of the draw this season- but the term is relative. They will face Armagh Champions Crossmaglen in the first round, at Kingspan Breffni on Saturday, November 7.

However, this isn't the Cross team of old, and there is a tentative feeling that the south Armagh sides defence is not as strong as their star-studded attack, which is led by talisman Rian O'Neill.

Corey himself, a Clontibret man, will be well familiar with the threat Cross pose. In 2019, he was involved with his club when they beat Cross 0-10 to 0-9 at the same stage in the Ulster Club Championship.

Gowna have blown the competition away in the Cavan Championship this year, most notably beating rivals, and the reigning champions, Kingscourt 4-17 to 0-14 in the decider.

The Madden and Brady brothers make up the spine of their team, and there is plenty of talent in the squad to finally break Cavan's duct in the competition.

Should they beat Crossmaglen, Gowna would play one of Clonduff (Down), Edendork (Tyrone) or Naomh Bríd (Antrim) in the quarter-final.

Donaghmoyne:

After Donaghmoyne's Monaghan IFC win on Sunday, talk immediately turned to how deep they could go into the Ulster competition.

Many of the players have memories of playing in the competition in 2016, when they were beaten by Tyrone's Pomeroy in the final.

Monaghan sides have a good record in the competition, with four wins and five runners-up they sit third in the overall stakes, behind Tyrone and Derry respectively.

Donaghmoyne manager Paddy Martin was involved with the side that got to the final in 2016, as were a number of the players including David Garland, Niall Keenan, Aaron Courtney, and joint-captains Mickey Murnaghan and Ronan McDonald.

The Fontenoys game-plan is built on defensive solidity, which will suit them going into an Ulster campaign often played in stormy conditions in the middle of winter.

Their attack is also littered with experienced players who are more than capable of rising to the occasion and leading them deep into the competition.

The Monaghan side will take on the Derry Champions, Desertmarin, at Páric Grattan, Inniskeen on Saturday, November 7.

Should they win that, they will play the Kinawley (Fermanagh) and Naomh Pádraig Uisce Chaoin (Donegal) in the semi-final.

Butlersbridge:

The Bridge's historic win over Denn brought an end to years of hurt for the Cavan side. They came out on top in a thrilling final in the middle of October and have been lying in wait ahead of the Ulster campaign.

Such is the strength of the IFC in Cavan, that clubs from the Breffni county have made it to the last three Ulster IFC finals (Cuchulainns, Arva, and Ballyhaise).

Certainly, Keelan Melaniff's side have the tools to give Ulster a right rattle. Cathal Leddy was man of the match in the county final, with tireless running and in attack and defence. Elsewhere, Caoimhin O'Reilly is a constant scoring threat, and Cian Sorohan is rock solid in goal.

It can be difficult for 'new' champions who haven't got recent experience of playing in provincial competitions, but the Bridge have nothing to fear.

Like Gowna, they will take on the Armagh champions, Naomh Peadar, on Saturday, November 7 in the curtain-raiser at Kingspan Breffni. Should they win that, they will meet the Antrim, Tyrone, or Down winners in the semi-final.

Drumhowan:

Paddy Kelly's Drumhowan side made their ambitions of winning the Ulster Junior Club Championship well known in the aftermath of their Monaghan JFC final win over Aghabog on Saturday.

The Geraldines were beaten by Derry's Craigbane in the semi-final stages in 2024, and two separate players mentioned it while speaking to The Celt last weekend.

The club also have history of winning the competition. In 2008, they beat another Derry side, Lissan, in the final at Brewster Park, Enniskillen.

Drumhowan definitely have enough talent to take on the competition this season, with Monaghan u20 star Tom Doherty their key player in search of provincial glory this season.

Captain Caolan Reilly and Monaghan Senior player Darragh McElearney are also constant threats for Drumhowan.

However, they can't think to far ahead just yet. The Geraldines will play the Antrim champions Rasharkin in the quarter-finals at St. Tiernach's Park, Clones on Sunday, November 1.

Should they win that, they will face either Newtownbutler (Fermanagh) or Kilclief (Down) in the semis.

Lacken:

Cavan champions Lacken had their first-round clash against Derry's Na Piarsaigh postponed last weekend, due to bad weather. As a result, the rescheduled fixture will take place this Saturday, October 31, at Celtic Park, Derry.

Speaking to The Celt last week, Lacken manager Aidan McCabe said it is "a breath of fresh air" to play in the Ulster JFC, a competition he has won previously with Monaghan club Blackhill in 2019.

Unlike Drumhowan in Monaghan, Lacken were comfortable in their county final win against Templeport, winning 2-19 to 1-11.

With a side featuring the likes of Raymond and Thomas Galligan, they will be one the sides favoured to win the competition.

Should they beat the Derry champions, they will then meet Armagh's Ballyhegan in the quarter-finals, before taking on the winners from either Tyrone or Donegal in the semi-final.