Gaelic Games

David Mohan
BBC Sport NI journalist

Image source, Inpho

With eight minutes to go in last year's Ulster Senior Football Championship quarter-final, it seemed Fermanagh were on course to defy the odds against Down.

Leading by seven, it appeared the Ernesiders were set to move into a semi-final meeting with Donegal when it all unravelled.

Daniel Guinness kicked a two-pointer and then found the net for Conor Laverty's side and after a pair of frees from Pat Havern tied it up, a Ryan McEvoy goal would break Fermanagh hearts.

They go into this Saturday's quarter-final against Armagh at Brewster Park [17:30 BST] as outsiders once again and while expectations outside of the camp are not overly high, full-forward Darragh McGurn feels they can draw inspiration from last year's performance against the Mournemen.

"We should have had that game home and hosed with 10 minutes to go and didn't get over the line," the 27-year-old told BBC Sport NI.

"We know there are big performances in us and we have quality with a few players to come back, so we're ready to put in a big performance."

Last year, Fermanagh entered the championship after a league campaign that saw them narrowly miss out on promotion from Division Three.

The background is much different this time around as one win from their seven games means they will ply their trade in the fourth division next year.

Going up against 2024 All-Ireland champions Armagh this week, a side that are firmly in the top tier, ensures their season "doesn't get any easier" but McGurn feels there are some caveats.

Undoubtedly, the quality of opposition in the league was high this year, evidenced by Westmeath - a team that missed out on promotion - stunning Meath in a Leinster quarter-final last weekend.

Of course, finishing bottom of the pile is not where McGurn and his Fermanagh team-mates "expected to be" but Declan Bonner's side will dust themselves off for Saturday's shot at springing the latest surprise in this year's provincial championships.

"At the start of the year, the goal was promotion but we got off to a bad start, picked up a few defeats early and it was hard to regain momentum," he reflects.

"The quality in Division Three this year was the highest I've ever seen, no easy games at all, but it's still disappointing to be going into Division Four.

"We'll be getting players back now and are looking for a big response now going into the championship."

David Mohan
BBC Sport NI journalist

Image source, Inpho

A first provincial three in a row may be on offer for Donegal this year, but midfielder Hugh McFadden is not looking past the challenge of Down in Letterkenny this Sunday [15:00 BST].

Jim McGuinness' side came through epic Ulster finals against Armagh in both 2024 and 2025, and while many predict the pair will meet at the semi-final stage this year, McFadden insists he and his team-mates are not taking their eye off the ball.

The 32-year-old from Killybegs has been around the block enough times to know there are no givens in the Ulster Senior Football Championship and experienced as much in 2023 when Down won a quarter-final meeting between the pair.

Undoubtedly, both are better sides now than three years ago, and with that in mind, there is no looking past the challenge posed by Conor Laverty's side this week.

"There's a lot to fight for over the next few weeks," McFadden told BBC Sport NI.

"It would be great to have a home game to start the All-Ireland series [as reward for reaching the Ulster final], but our focus is on Down.

"We know the ins and outs of the Ulster Championship, and if you look too far ahead you'll get stung.

"Down comprehensively beat us in the first round of the Ulster Championship in 2023, so it will be a very competitive battle."

Donegal enter this year's championship with silverware already secured in the form of the Division One league title.

That emphatic victory over Kerry in the final at the end of March has fulled expectations that 2026 may be the year that Donegal can win a first All-Ireland title since 2014.

However, despite the manner of the victory over the Kingdom last month, McFadden says "we're not going to read into it too extensively" and referenced Dublin in 2023 and Armagh the following year as evidence that it takes more than league success to translate into championship glory.

"We know what we want to do this year, what we have to work on and improve on," he said.

"There's some amount of very good teams around the country, teams who have won an All-Ireland over the past few years from Division Two, so we're not getting carried away.

"There's a lot of top teams on our side of the draw, but there's a lot of top teams throughout Ulster and no game is handy won.

"Over the past few years we've had titanic battles with everybody, so it will take every inch of our being to get over the line."

Image source, Getty Images

The Republic of Ireland will play their 2027 Women's World Cup qualifier with the Netherlands at Pairc Ui Chaoimh in Cork.

The qualifier on 5 June will be the third time the Republic of Ireland have played at the home of gaelic games in Cork.

The Republic of Ireland defeated France in a memorable 3-1 win in front of 18,400 fans in 2024, and Carla Ward's side picked up a 1-0 win against Slovenia last year.

Ward said that her squad "love" playing in Cork and they will look to extend their unbeaten run at the stadium against the Netherlands in their final home qualifier of the campaign, before a final fixture in France.

"The team has won both matches at Pairc Ui Chaoimh so far, and we will be aiming to continue that run against the Netherlands," Ward said.

"I've no doubt that our supporters will come out in their numbers to back the team as we aim to move closer to securing a place at the World Cup."

The Republic of Ireland are third in League A2 and picked up six points against Poland in April's double-header.

Ward's side lost their opening qualifier to France at Tallaght Stadium, and were narrowly defeated 2-1 by the Netherlands in Utrecht in March.

Image source, Inpho

Man of the match Dessie Ward and penalty-saving hero Rory Beggan speak to BBC Sport NI after Monaghan's 0-27 to 2-14 win over Cavan in Sunday's Ulster SFC quarter-final.

Ward on Monaghan's performance: "We knew the job wasn't done at half-time the way the rules are now, a two-pointer can change a game big time.

"We knew Cavan were going to come out and hunt us, we have been on the wrong side of this result a few times over the last couple of years so we knew we were no means home and hosed.

"It was a bit hairy at times but we got forward and got crucial scores at crucial times."

Beggan on his penalty save from Paddy Lynch: "It was pure guess. It was a bit of pot luck and nice to get across. Good to make that contribution to the team."

On his save from Darragh Lovett: "It has to be [bread and butter]. A lot of those chances happened in a small period of time.

"Some days they go through you and others you make the save and are the hero, it's just making yourself big."

David Mohan
BBC Sport NI journalist at Celtic Park

Image source, Getty Images

Antrim manager Mark Doran accepted the "levels" between his side and Derry told as the Oak Leafs powered to a 13-point win in Saturday's Ulster Championship quarter-final.

Two divisions separate the counties in the league and this was more than evident with Derry just quicker, sharper and able to dictate terms as they move into the last four.

Rank outsiders coming into Celtic Park, Antrim put up a credible performance for the most part, but also gave up some cheap scores including an under-hit pass which led to Lachlan Murray's goal, while also punished for 4v3 breaches.

They needed everything to go right to upset the odds and that wasn't the case according to the Antrim boss.

"After 20, 25 minutes, we were really happy," Doran told BBC Sport NI after the game.

"We've done serious work on our own kick-outs and our press, and probably didn't do that in the second half, but the first half, we felt everything we were working on was coming off.

"The disappointing thing is they scored 1-11 [in the first half] and 1-5 from turnovers.

"We did a lot right and going in at half-time you're trying really positive, but coming here we knew we needed to be perfect and giving away 1-5 was the biggest disappointment."

While disappointed their wait for a victory in the Ulster Championship will roll into a 13th year, Antrim will now set their sights on the Tailteann Cup.

Semi-finalists in 2023 and 2024, a return to this stage of the secondary All-Ireland competition is an ambition but Doran accepts that will not be straightforward.

"How do we close the gap? Head down and make sure we have a good end to the season which is trying to get to Croke Park, so we'll put our heads down and go for everything.

"Those boys live in the real world and knew they weren't going to win the Ulster title, but there is a bit of belief as they had a good run [in the Tailteann Cup] two years ago and they have a good chance.

"Those boys will hurt for a few days, but they will come back and go after the Tailteann Cup although a lot will come down to the draw as there will be some big teams on there."

David Mohan
BBC Sport NI journalist in Dunloy

Image source, Inpho

For the second time in four weeks, Donal Hughes was Down's hero against Antrim, finding an injury-time goal to snatch a 1-22 to 0-23 win in the opening round of the Joe McDonagh cup in Dunloy.

Hughes hit a last-gasp goal when the sides met in Newry in March, but it was not enough to save their Division 1B status as Antrim survived the drop on scoring difference.

This time, the Saffrons had a couple of minutes to turn it around, but Ronan Sheehan's side held firm to claim a famous win and get their championship campaign off to a flying start.

Down won the toss and opted to play into a strong wind, backing themselves to remain in touch by the half.

They did just that with Caolan Taggart a rock at centre-back, battling, scrapping and turning over possession as Ronan Sheehan's men brought a huge appetite for hard work.

Antrim didn't help themselves in the opening half, converting just 12 of 23 shots - two of the wides hotly disputed by the home support - but just couldn't get a full grip on the game.

Seaan Elliott was on form from early frees, his and his team's first from play coming in the 15th minute, as Down kept in touch with Tom McGrattan and Daithi Sands complimenting the free-taking of Pearse Og McCrickard.

By the break, Antrim did have a 0-12 to 0-8 lead with seven different scorers including all four of the Dunloy contingent who registered on their home path, but there was a sense Down would have been relatively happy at the turnaround.

Like the first half, Tom McGrattan was first on the board for Down in the second with James McNaughton hitting back and that set the tone for the majority of the second period as the sides went score for score on nine occasions.

Just as it seemed Antrim were managing the game out, Marc Fisher broke the sequence when following up from McGrattan's fourth of the day and while Seaan Elliott hit back with his 10th of the afternoon - nine from frees - Down finished well, rattling off the next three with Owen McDermott's point added to by two McCrickard frees to bring his tally to eight.

When Antrim substitute Jack McCloskey nudged the hots ahead in added time, the subsequent poc-out was plucked from the sky by Ronan Beattie who popped outside to Hughes to finish low.

There was still some time for Antrim and they had appeals for a black card penalty waved away when McNaughton was hauled down outside the area and Gerard Walsh's well-struck 20 metre free was saved out for a 65.

Antrim sent a couple of balls in as the searched for the winner, but Down held out for a second win over the neighbours in succession.

Antrim: Cormac McFadden; Oisin Donnelly, Niall O'Connor, Stephen Rooney; Ryan McNulty, Paddy Burke, Joe Maskey; Eoin O'Neill (0-1), Paul Boyle (0-1); Keelan Molloy (0-2), Ryan McCambridge (0-2), Conal Cunning (0-2); James McNaughton (0-3), Ruairi Donaghy, Seaan Elliott (0-10, 9f).

Subs: Coanll Bohill for P Boyle (49), Gerard Walsh for E O'Neill (59), Ruairi McCormick for R McNulty (65), Scott Walsh for O DOnnelly (68), Jack McCloskey (0-1) for C Cunning (70+2).

Down: Pearce Smyth; Tom Murray, Ruairi McCrockard, Ben Teggart (0-1); Barry Trainor, Caolan Taggart (0-1), Niall McFarland; Donal Hughes (1-1), Liam Savage (0-1); Daithi Sands (0-2), Finn Turpin (0-1), Pearse Og McCrickard (0-8, 8f); Tom McGrattan (0-4), Tim Prenter, Shea Pucci.

Subs: Cahal Coleman (0-1) for T Prenter (27, head injury, not replaced), Ronan Beattie for S Pucci (49), Marc Fisher (0-1) for T Murray (52), Ronan Smyth for N McFarland (56), Paul Sheehan for F Turpin (61), Owen McDermott (0-1) for B Trainor (65)

Referee: Thomas Gleeson (Dublin)

Image source, Getty Images

Dublin boss Ger Brennan will be absent from the sidelines for the county's Leinster SFC campaign after his 12-week suspension was upheld by the Disputes Resolution Authority (DRA).

Brennan was issued a ban for an altercation with Galway strength and conditioning coach Cian Breathnach McGinn - who was banned for eight weeks - during Dublin's relegation-confirming Division One defeat by the Tribesmen in Salthill on 22 March.

Having had an appeal knocked back by the Central Hearings Committee (CHC) and Central Appeals Committe (CAC), Brennan's final attempt to have the ban overturned was turned down after a five-hour DRA hearing on Saturday morning.

Dublin GAA, who said Dean Rock will continue to deputise for Brennan, described the severity of the sanction as an "unduly heavy burden".

"While we are disappointed at the outcome of the case, we will await the written judgement with interest and give due examination and consideration to changes required to improve the fairness and proportionality of our disciplinary system within our association," read Dublin GAA's statement.

"Ger Brennan did - at all times - accept that he should receive some sanction for last month's incident.

"However, the weight of the penalty imposed on a volunteer member is an unduly heavy burden."

Dublin begin their Leinster SFC campaign against Wicklow in Aughrim on Sunday (15:00 BST).

Image source, Inpho

For Antrim to upset the odds at Celtic Park on Saturday [17:00 BST], manager Mark Doran feels "it will take a lot of things to go right for us and a lot to go wrong for Derry".

The Saffrons enter the game as rank outsiders to end their wait for a first victory on the provincial stage since 2014, going into the backyard of an Oak Leaf side that rediscovered its spark in Division Two this year.

Last year, Antrim pushed then All-Ireland champions Armagh for 45 minutes at the quarter-final stage, but ran out of steam as Kieran McGeeney's side pulled away.

Sustaining a 70-minute performance is imperative if Antrim are to upset the odds, but Doran is "under no illusions about the size of the task".

"All we can do is prepare the best we can, embrace it and for 70 minutes, give the best versions of themselves and you never know what will happen," the Longstone native told BBC Sport NI.

"You'd hope the players would take great confidence from that [Armagh game]. It's another year and we're going to Celtic Park, but the one thing we can control is making sure we are set up right and hopefully go and give a massive performance.

"It will take a lot of things to go right for us and a lot to go wrong for Derry, but it's championship and we all love sport as you never know what can happen."

Doran is no stranger to Derry football, having managed Slaughtneil in recent years and will come up against some of his former players this week including Brendan Rogers and Shane McGuigan.

However, Ciaran Meenagh's side is littered with quality which Doran knows only too well.

"It's easy saying you can shut them down, but doing it is a different matter," he accepts.

"Shane is one of the top forwards in Ireland, Brendan one of the top midfielders but you can play him anywhere.

"My three years in Derry I've seen so many good footballers, but with Shane and Brendan, they are really good people and you put that aside for 70 minutes and see if you can stop them."

Derry v Antrim is live on BBC Two NI, the BBC iPlayer, BBC Sport NI website & app.

Image source, Inpho

Jack McCarron will start on the bench for Monaghan's Ulster Senior Football Championship quarter-final with Cavan at Clones on Sunday (15:00 BST, live on BBC Two NI, BBC iPlayer and website.)

The Scotstown forward with take his place on a strong Farney bench with includes Conor McCarthy and Killian Lavelle, who are yet to feature for their county this season.

Rory Beggan will once again start between the sticks, with Dessie Ward at centre-back and the influential Michael Bannigan at centre-forward.

Cavan manager Dermot McCabe makes one change to the side which lost their final league game to Derry with Gerard Smith named at wing-back.

Smith scored a late goal to win the last Championship meeting between the sides.

Gearoid McKiernan will partner Ryan Donohoe at midfield, while Paddy Lynch is once again named at full-forward.

The Breffni men will be looking to further assert their championship dominance over their neighbours after winning the last three championship clashes between the sides.

Monaghan: Rory Beggan; Darragh McElearney, Ryan O'Toole, Dylan Byrne; Cameron Dowd, Dessie Ward, Aaron Carey; Michael McCarville, Louis Kelly; Karl Gallagher, Michael Bannigan, Stephen O'Hanlon; David Garland, Andrew Woods, Stephen Mooney.

Subs: Kian Mulligan, Thomas Hughes, Robbie Hanratty, Bobbie McCaul, Ryan Mohan, Conor McCarthy, Ryan Duffy, Killian Lavelle, Oisin McGorman, Jack McCarron, Shane Hanratty.

Cavan: Liam Brady; Jason McLoughlin, Brian O'Connell, Cormac Brady; Gerard Smith, Ciaran Brady, Conor Brady; Ryan Donohoe, Gearoid McKiernan, Tiernan Madden, Eoin Clarke, Emmanuel Shehu; Dara McVeety, Patrick Lynch, Oisin Brady.

Subs: Gary O'Rourke, Evan Crowe, Peter Corrigan, Ciaran Brady, Darragh Lovett, Favour Shehu, Ryan Tobin, Caoimhin McGovern, Cian Shekelton, Evan McIntyre, Niall Carolan.