St Paul’s Ulster Minor Football Tournament returns after two-year hiatus

The Ulster Minor Football Tournament makes its eagerly-anticipated return next month following a Covid-enforced two-year absence.

Hosted by St Paul’s GAC in West Belfast, the competition will be celebrating its 40th anniversary with nine teams battling it out for the Jim McConville Cup.

Monday night’s launch at Belfast City Hall saw Lord Mayor Christina Black conduct the draw along with St Paul’s Chair Caroline McLaughlin.

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The preliminary round tie has pitted Donegal champions Four Masters against the Fermanagh winners.

There are still five teams in the hunt for minor honours in the Erne County, namely Irvinestown, St Oliver Plunkett’s, Derrygonnelly, Newtownbutler and Cleenish.

Armagh champions Clan na nGael will play with preliminary round winners in the quarter-final while Antrim champions St Brigid’s face Down winners Burren.

The draw for the 2022 Ulster Minor Football Tournament took place at Belfast City Hall on Monday night (Hugh Russell)

Derry teams have a strong record in competition with Bellaghy (2018) and Lavey (2019) winning the two most recent renewals while Glen famously won four-in-a-row between 2011 and 2014.

Dungiven will represent the Oak Leaf County this time around and they’ll take on Cavan champions Ramor United in the last eight while Monaghan winners Scotstown take on Tyrone champions Donaghmore in the other quarter-final tie.

The tournament, which is again sponsored by fonaCAB, will begin on the weekend of December 10/11 with the final set to take place on New Year’s Day.

The full fixture schedule will be confirmed by tournament officials later this week.

2022 Ulster Minor Football Tournament at St Paul’s

Preliminary round:

Fermanagh champions v Four Masters (Donegal)

Quarter-finals:

1. St Brigid’s (Antrim) v Burren (Down)

2. Ramor United (Cavan)v Dungiven (Derry)

3. Donaghmore (Tyrone) v Scotstown (Monaghan)

4. Clan na nGael (Armagh) v Preliminary winners

Semi-finals:

1 v 2 ; 3 v 4

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