Compiled by Ulster LGFA PRO Paul Swift
THERE’S more provincial silverware up for grabs on with the Ulster Junior and Intermediate Finals down for decision.
Healy Park in Omagh hosts a double header for the TG4 Ulster Finals, with Antrim up against Derry in the Junior Final, while holders Down will take on Cavan in the Intermediate game.
The Ulster Finals can be accessed via the Ulster LGFA Facebook Page: https://bit.ly/3GYNMG2
Sunday May 18, 2025
TG4 Ulster Junior Championship Final
Antrim v Derry; O’Neills Healy Park, Omagh, 1pm – Live at https://bit.ly/44CCEsl
The TG4 Ulster Junior decider sees neighbours Antrim and Derry go head-to-head for the title which Antrim last won in 2022 and Derry in 2018.
Antrim will start the game as red-hot favourites. The Saffrons and Galway are the only unbeaten teams in the country at inter-county level in 2025 and Antrim have carried their stunning Lidl National league form into the Championship.
They won seven out of seven in the group phase of Division 4, clinching promotion comfortably in the process, before sealing silverware against Fermanagh.
In the round-robin series of the Ulster Championship, Antrim racked up 4-12 against Derry in Round 1, before putting 4-21 past London.
Derry will hope to be more competitive this time but it’s difficult to see past Antrim in this one.
Looking ahead, and having suffered relegation from the Intermediate ranks last year, Antrim will be a force to be reckoned with in the All-Ireland series.
Antrim: A Devlin; N McIntosh, M Blaney, M Mulholland; S O’Neill, C Brown, C McKenna; A Mulholland, O Todd; T Mellon, M O’Neill, A Kelly; B Devlin (capt.), L Agnew, Á Tubridy.
Derry: T Cassidy; C Dillon, G Brewster, J Corr; O McEvoy, S Hargan, B Donnelly; L Brewester, A Crozier (capt.); C Hargan, A Ni Lochlainn, A Martin; A McAlister, C Donnelly, J Slevin.
TG4 Ulster Intermediate Championship Final
Cavan v Down; O’Neills Healy Park, Omagh, 3.30pm – Live at https://bit.ly/4do1YET
Down will put their TG4 Ulster Intermediate crown on the line against an emerging Cavan outfit.
Cavan are on the crest of a wave in recent times. Underage inter-county success has been achieved and Lidl All-Ireland PPS titles have been collected, which bodes well for the future.
In the present, Cavan are basking in the glory of promotion back to Division 2 of the Lidl National league, and Division 3 silverware, and they’ve looked good in the Ulster championship to date also.
Cavan achieved an impressive four-point semi-final victory over Monaghan, with captain Shauna Lynch starring at the back, while Lauren McVeety and elusive inside forward Aisling Gilsenan also sparkled.
Cavan finished with nine unanswered scores (1-8) to claim a spirited come from behind win.
Down have also improved as the season has progressed. They finished three points adrift of a promotion place in Division 3 and lost by 1-8 to 3-15 when they faced Cavan in the League.
But an Ulster semi-final victory over Tyrone, a team who played Division 1 Football this year, provided clear evidence that Down won’t give up their provincial crown without a fight.
Eimear Fitzpatrick was in scintillating form on the day, scoring 1-5, including the winning point, as Down overturned a three-point deficit to emerge victorious by the bare minimum (2-10 to 1-12).
With plenty of survivors from last year’s Ulster Final, Down have bags of experience to call upon.
Cavan: E Baugh; L Crowe, S Kelly, E Corcoran; M Sheridan, S Lynch (capt.), S Greene; M Fitzpatrick, A Deneher; E Brady, L McVeety, C Dolan; N Keenaghan, A Sheridan, A Gilsenan.
Down: C Byrne; A Greene, C McCreanor, N McClory; C Mulvenna (capt.), A Brogan, E Sands; M Doherty, A Laverty; E Fitzpatrick, L Duffy, A Smyth; N King, N Rice, E Hicks.
