Bank of Ireland Paddy McLarnon Memorial Under 21 Football tournament
Sunday February 4: Paírc Kickhams, Creggan (12 noon): Erin’s Own Lavey (Derry) v Southern Gaels (Cavan)
Paírc Kickhams on the Staffordstown outside Randalstown plays hosts once again to an intriguing afternoon of U21 football.
First up, Erin's Own, Lavey take on Southern Gaels.
The men from the Oakleaf county have turned heads on their odyssey to the semi-finals.
Having exceeded expectations by becoming champions of Derry, they were underdogs against a strong Galbally team in their quarter-final.
On a wind-swept afternoon on the Loughshore, Lavey unearthed a rising star among their ranks with Thomas Donnelly firing 1-6 to ease his side past the Pearse’s.
Shea Downey another strong performer for the Derry men while Hugh McGurk as a sweeper is as canny an operator as you will find.
Southern Gaels produced probably the best 30 minutes of football in the tournament so far.
Their first half display against Crossmaglen proved to be enough, just, to edge past the men from Armagh in their quarter-final. Cian Madden top scored for the Gowna and Lacken amalgamation with 0-6 over the hour but it took a last minute outstanding Conor Gormley-esque block from man of the match Thomas Galligan to ensure their progress.
Having led by four points at half-time, the Cavan champions will be hoping for a more complete performance tomorrow after edging past Cross by the minimum.
Southern Gaels are a much more physically imposing side and will start as favourites.
But the underdog tag has worked well for the men from Lavey thus far.
Bank of Ireland Paddy McLarnon Memorial Under 21 Football tournament
Sunday February 4 Paírc Kickhams, Creggan (2pm): Gaoth Dobhair (Donegal) v Carryduff (Down)
Gaoth Dobhair take on Carryduff in the second semi-final and the men from Tír Chonaill looking to progress one stage further than last year.
In 2017 they faced eventual champions Watty Grahams but fell in extra time.
But with many of the side retained from that campaign, they will start as favourites.
They will have Cian Mulligan in their ranks with the talented midfielder returning after county duty but Carryduff will be no pushovers.
The Down men were mightily impressive in their quarter-final victory over Enniskillen Gaels with James Guinness putting in probably the performance of the tournament so far, knocking over 0-8 for his side.
Having not conceded a goal through the Down championship and against The Gaels last time out, Carryduff are no mugs in defence but their attacking prowess is their strengths and that will be sternly tested against Gaoth Dobhair.
Tom ‘Beag’ Mac Giolla Easpuig has built a side in the Donegal mould and they’ve got stronger as the tournament has progressed.
They eased past Rossa in the preliminary round while they were hugely impressive against Monaghan’s Donaghmoyne in the semi’s.
The Donegal men should progress from another tight contest.
