All-Ireland U21 Championship 2011

Fermanagh v Cavan

Donegal v Antrim

Down v Tyrone

Monaghan v Derry

So with Derry already having disposed of Armagh in the preliminary round the quarter finals take place tonight.
Cavan face a tough trip to Brewster Park, the site of their demise in the final last year, to take on a strong Fermanagh side. Gearoid McKiernan has been named as captain and hopefully will dominate from midfield and we have a few decent forwards with Barry Reilly and Niall Smith from last year's panel and Packie Leddy and Jack Brady available too.

Fermanagh will be no walkovers and Cavan at 2/5 are at a very flattering price.. Sean Quigley, younger brother of the senior panelist Seamus who kicked 3 points after coming on as a sub against Cavan in last year's Ulster Championship and Ryan Jones who kicked 6 points for the Senior team v Wicklow in the League this year will prove to be tough opposition. They are also managed by Cavan Gaels boss Darren Chapman so they will be well aware of what Cavan will have to offer.

It's really impossible to predict at this level and there have been so many upsets thus far a Fermanagh win is very possible but this is a decent Cavan side and they should live up to their favourites tag. G'wan Cavan!!

Go on Derry, Put up a great fight last week against the orangemen, Kept cool and composed even though they were trailing by 5 or 6 at one stage! Go On Derry! Doire Abu!

Full time in Ballybofey - Donegal 0-08 Antrim 0-05.
Cavan in the semi-final.

Other wins for Cavan and Monaghan. ET in Tyrone v Down.

Cavan win by 6 very good peformances from reilly and mcdermott in the forwards from what i was told...

Down and Tyrone drew after ET. Replay required.

Cavan made hard work of things in the end. Fantastic performance from Barry Reilly and Leddy in the first half, Leddy a brilliant target man inside and Reilly was swinging in 40 yard passes with the outside of his boot that The Mac would be proud of and getting tackles in at the back a few minutes later. Cavan's midfield is a shadow of what it was last year though they won very little clean ball, McKiernan looked out of sorts but I think he was carrying an injury, still got one sweet point from near the sideline though. Jack Brady is a fine free taker and knocked over all but one that he took.

Cavan had a big lead at halftime and took the foot of the pedal big time.. The backs on this team aren't the same standard as the forwards.. No real physical presence in the full back line. They won by six but O'Mara in goals made two great saves and Fermanagh kicked 4 easy frees wide. Never in any real danger but should have buried Fermanagh. Some classy football and great play by Cavan in spells though.

Donegal in a neutral venue now in the next round. Maybe Brewster again? If Donegal are anything like last year I can't see Cavan getting past them. Cavan's full back line lacks a commanding presence and they will cough up goals teams run at them.

Also ref was brutal tonight, extremely fussy and did his best to ruin the game.

Relieved that Tyrone came away with a draw in a game that they twice looked like losing. Tyrone's U-21 campaign this year is enormously important, given that the seniors are screaming out for new blood. We have won 2 of the last 3 all-ireland minor titles, so we really should be making an impact here, although Down would also have ambitions of going all the way.

Last year Mickey Harte took several the 2008 minor team into his senior panel, but 4 of those players were missing last night. Kyle Coney and Ronan McNabb came on as subs, while Ciaran Girvan and Gavin Teague were missing. I know that Girvan, Teague and Coney have all been injured, but wasn't aware that McNabb was - Mugsy/Boc/RHM, are any of you able to shed any light on this?

I was worried about this game. In 2004, Tyrone U-21s were missing several of their all-ireland minor winners from 2001, and lost in extra time to an Armagh side who went on to win the all-ireland. Glad that we've survived to fight another day.

TC I was also in Newry last night and was very relieved to come away from the game with a draw. I thought it was an excellent game of football, there was a good pace to the game throughout which probably explains the high numbers of players suffering from cramp toward the end of extra time or perhaps that burnout word may come into play again......

I think Ronan McNabb pulled his hamstring against Donegal in the league game - Hopefully these hamstring and groin injuries won't curtail this lads career as he is future senior material. You would have known from last nights game that he lacked some match practice and was giving his man too much room at times but made some great interceptions towards the end of the game in normal time and added some experience to the defence after Mossey went off injured. Gavin Teague is still injured as is Ciaran Girvan. Girvan definitely won't be back for the replay. Teague may have an outside chance of being ready.

Both teams do have some great young forwards and I think from a Tyrone point of view there is great potential in both Mattie and Richie Donnelly who was excellent when introduced - Richie played really well and showed great maturity for a lad who was a minor last year. Ronan O'Neill is a class act and he showed again last night that he has the potential to become a household name. Coney was very dangerous when moved into the full forward line, good to see him in action as there hasn't been much sign of him since last years U21 defeat to Derry. The half forward line of McNeice, Harte and McNulty were reasonably good but I was expecting more from them as this is their last year at this level. My clubmate John McCullagh tried very hard but was beaten to the ball a couple of times but like O'Neill has great potential to succeed. The replay is fixed for Omagh next wednesday at 8pm and if its anything like what we saw last night we're in for a real treat. Both teams deserve great credit for last nights game.

The repeat of last year's final is in Brewster tonight and I'd be far from confident about our chances. The full back line doesn't inspire much confidence and we won't win nearly the same amount of ball as last year at midfield. McKiernan is carrying an injury and hasn't been able to train from what I hear, if he can't play it will be a huge blow to any chance we may have.
Lets just hope the management have a proper plan for playing against the swarm defence of Donegal, something they didn't have last time. RMD are you going to Enniskillen?

No, not heading up JS. The better half is away to Kylie in Dublin so I'm left minding the fort. I'll be listening on the radio though.
We are a majorly different team from last year. We had 2 stand-out players last year that elevated us above average - Michael Murphy and Leo McLoone (Mc Loone got 2 MOTM awards and was nominated with Murphy for the player of the tournament). Neither are available to us this year (Murphy is too old and McLoone has a broken leg) and I think that will make all the difference. Cavan are well familiar with our game play and will have been working hard on ways to break us down. Therefore I'm going for a close 2 point win for Cavan.
Best of luck to both teams.

Both of us are talking down our chances then...
It'll be an intriguing encounter if nothing else, sure to be a close one.. It's a great evening for football so here's hoping we get a spectacle. I'll not even dare to make a prediction.

C'mon Cavan!

I won on my u21s bet last week im not going near the bookies tonight!

FT Cavan 0-12 Donegal 1-04

Easy win for Cavan. Donegal got their first point from play with 2 minutes to go in the game and the scoreline actually flatters Donegal.
Well done Cavan and best of luck in the final.

Well done Cavan.. Last year's beating in the final certainly looks to have matured this team and it's good to see management had them well prepared. Donegal just missing the class that Murphy provided. Donegal people all very gracious in defeat I must say.

Tyrone Down in another epic, Coney kicked a free to level it in the last minute, Tyrone went 3 points ahead in ET and then Down came back to level it! Another replay this Saturday I think. They'll have surely ended their place in the semi whenever they are separated and will probably be favourites to go on and lift the cup.. Provided they get past Monaghan of course.

Longford and Wexford to meet in the Leinster Final. Westmeath had Heslin, who had just come on at halftime, sent off and the game changed from there. The Ref had to be escorted from the grounds for his own safety..

didnt get to the game unfortunately ut did get to listen to some of it on the radio, seemed to be a game were the tide turned on several occassions, Tyrone raced into a 4-1 lead after 10 minutes and yet were 3 points down at the interval courtesy of a Down goal. Thankfully Coney kicked a late free to level it and force extra time though i think Tyrone hit 3 bad wides before Coneys free.

Tyrone again raced ahead in extra time and were leading 0-14 1-8 at one stage, alas Down got back on level terms and forced a replay. Probably neither team deserved to lose but one of them is going to have to eventually.

Part 3 is on Saturday from what i gather - though the announcement at the end of the game said next wednesday was the likely date of the next game

BTW the odds for another draw tonight were 8/1 - should have been on it

Just back from the match in Omagh this evening, Tyrone could and should have been beaten in normal time but Down made some very silly mistakes with their final passes and couldn't close the game out. Coney equalised with a pressure free kick at the very end of the game in normal time. Tyrone then raced into a 3 point lead in extra time, Kyle Coney scoring a spectacular effort from the wing but some very questionable refereeing decisions brought Down back into the thing. Tyrone should have won it in extra time but both teams have it all to do again - I think the replay may be on Saturday evening possibly in Newry but if a neutral venue is chosen Armagh would probably be the most likely spot. Probably still too close to call - may go to penalties.......

Congrats to Cavan on getting through to the final

That's it.. Let Down or Tyrone tire themselves out against each other and use the last vestiges of energy getting past Monaghan.. Then give them an evening of running after Niall Smith in the final...

Delighted with the win.
Now have the final at the weekend so I can actually go see it!
Match report would be much appreciated not many round carlow in the know and the ole lad has cows calving and wasnt at it!

Jonsmith wrote:That's it.. Let Down or Tyrone tire themselves out against each other and use the last vestiges of energy getting past Monaghan.. Then give them an evening of running after Niall Smith in the final...

There were a couple of Down lads carried off this evening, one fella had a very bad leg injury. Tyrone already have defenders Kevin Mossey and Gavin Teague out, Ciaran Girvan came back from injury this evening to play most of the second half but was withdrawn a few minutes before the end of the half, i would doubt if he'd be ready for Saturday. Ronan McNabb still appears to be struggling with injury also although he did manage to play in the latter stages of the game. Another tough encounter could see both sides losing another few players so Monaghan could be facing either Down or Tyrone with their resources severely stretched.

scoopmine wrote:Delighted with the win.
Now have the final at the weekend so I can actually go see it!
Match report would be much appreciated not many round carlow in the know and the ole lad has cows calving and wasnt at it!

What does a pregnant cow and Monaghan have in common....
There both near cavan

mugsys_barber wrote:

Jonsmith wrote:That's it.. Let Down or Tyrone tire themselves out against each other and use the last vestiges of energy getting past Monaghan.. Then give them an evening of running after Niall Smith in the final...

There were a couple of Down lads carried off this evening, one fella had a very bad leg injury. Tyrone already have defenders Kevin Mossey and Gavin Teague out, Ciaran Girvan came back from injury this evening to play most of the second half but was withdrawn a few minutes before the end of the half, i would doubt if he'd be ready for Saturday. Ronan McNabb still appears to be struggling with injury also although he did manage to play in the latter stages of the game. Another tough encounter could see both sides losing another few players so Monaghan could be facing either Down or Tyrone with their resources severely stretched.

The tight matches could stand to Tyrone. Cavan will have a very tough final, given our recent trend for getting to the line and then crumbling spectacularly I find optimism extremely hard to gather but perhaps they can buck the trend..

Its amazing what GTs backing has done for Cavan football! Obviously the younger - and more internet friendly Cavan folk - have raised their game following the vote of confidence by GT. Sometimes these things take a little time before the full benefits are seen!

scoopmine wrote:
Delighted with the win.
Now have the final at the weekend so I can actually go see it!
Match report would be much appreciated not many round carlow in the know and the ole lad has cows calving and wasnt at it!

What does a pregnant cow and Monaghan have in common....
There both near cavan

Boom!

The 2nd replay of the Tyrone v Down fixture has been fixed for next Wednesday in the Athletic Grounds Armagh. The match was originally scheduled for this weekend, however following some concerns from Tyrone manager Raymond Munroe about player burnout the Ulster Council have agreed to move the game to next Wednesday.

I am in favour of the move as it was asking too much for these guys who have played 2 games with extra time in both in the space of 7 days, however Munroes comments are a bit strange considering that last night, only 24 hours after Wednesdays game the u21s were put through a fairly intense training session!!!!!

Surely if he was that concerned about burnout the guys would have been given more than 24 hours to recover..............

Already looking forward to Tyrone V Down Episode 3 this wednesday night. I would hope that Ronan McNabb starts this game as he adds some strength to the defence. Its definite that Kevin Mossey won't be able to play and although Gavin Teague is coming back to fitness he may not be ready for action just yet.

Munroe needs to sort out his Midfield. He has twice started Keenan and has taken him off at half time in both games. If he starts on Wednesday there will certainly be alot of head scratching going on. Would rather see either Richie Donnelly or Sean Warnock starting alonside McKenna. Consideration should also be given to playing Coney in the full forward line, the closer he is to goal the more dangerous he is. His workrate is questionable out the field and more often than not tries the impossible passes that don't always come off. Hopefully Tyrone can finally get over the line and through to meet Monaghan