GAELS AND SARS TO CONTEST JUNIOR TITLE

AIB ULSTER JUNIOR CLUB FINAL

Cavan Gaels v Killeevan Sarsfields

The first of our 3 finals this weekend sees the Breffni junior champions, Cavan Gaels play the Farney winners, Killeevan Sarsfields. This could be deemed a local derby as less than twenty miles separates the two sides.

Cavan Gaels Ulster campaign started on the road in County Down where they overcame the challenge of Teconnaght 3-8 to 1-8. That victory set up a semi-final clash with Drumragh.

The semi final was a battle and a half. Both sides gave it everything and after sixty minutes the sides couldn’t be separated. The full-time score was 2-7 apiece. Extra time proved just as enthralling. The sides traded scores however in injury time in the second period of extra time, Katie Leddy fired over a free to give the Gaels a 3-11 to 3-10 victory.

While Leddy was the hero of the moment, there were also noteworthy performances from Sarah Clarke who just gets better with every game she plays and Marian Mc Guinness, the ex-Armagh County player who has Ulster club experience with Carrickcruppen.

Killeevan Sarsfield’s road to the final has been a wee bit less dramatic. Two homes games ensured massive support and the girls to date have been outstanding. Aidee Little has been with the squad for 5 years and all the hard work is proving fruitful as they landed not only the Monaghan championship title but the Division 3 League crown as well.

In the quarter final against Naomh Columba, Killeevan took a while to settle but went in at the break leading 1-4 to 0-4. Two additional goals followed in the second half as the Monaghan champs went on to win by four points, 3-5 to 0-10.

The semi-final seen John Mitchell’s travel to Newbliss. The Derry champs came in as favourites having won their preliminary game and quarter final. They say goals wins games and, on the day, Sarsfield’s hit six, with 17-year-old Karyn Mc Ginn netting a hatrick as her side went on to win 6-6 to 0-10.

Leigha Mc Dermott, Emma Corley, Aoibhe Lynch and Aine Deery have been solid throughout the campaign. The team are super fit and have leaders all over the pitch. They have no super stars, just a squad of hard-working honest players captained by Katelyn Greenan.

This one is impossible to call but one thing for sure is that the winner will give plenty of intermediate teams a run for their money in 2026.