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Ardboe (Tyrone) v Burren (Down)
Sun, 16 Nov 2025
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Ardboe 2-10 v Burren 1-14
The game billed as the tie of the round certainly lived up to expectations as Tyrone champions Ardboe and Down’s Burren served up an absolute cracker on Sunday afternoon. A superb second-half comeback from Ardboe fell just short, with Burren’s class coming to the fore in the dying minutes to secure their place in the semi-finals of the 2025 Paul McGirr Ulster U16 Club Championship.
Ardboe started strongly, racing into an early four-point lead with scores from Ruairí O’Neill, Ciarán McKeown and Odhrán Coleman, while Burren struggled to get to the pace of the game. However, once the Down champions secured a foothold in midfield thanks to the high fielding of MFC Man of the Match Dylan Kelly and Jay Cunningham, the momentum shifted dramatically.
Three pointed frees from sharpshooter Sam Murdock and another from Jonny Denner brought the sides level before Denner reacted quickest to a breaking ball and finished to the net. Up front, Shane McGreevy and Denner proved ideal targets for Burren’s direct kicking game.
A superb outside of the boot effort from the excellent Ethan Harty, three further points including a two-pointer from Murdock, and scores from Denner and the marauding Patrick Murtagh saw a rampant Burren take a commanding 1-10 to 0-4 lead into half-time.
Ardboe needed answers, and they found them with a devastating third-quarter spell that completely changed the complexion of the game. Early points from Coleman and McKeown chipped away at the deficit, and when McKeown found the net, the contest suddenly reopened.
Wing back Shea McGinley was unlucky not to add a three pointer when his goalbound shot struck the post. But the second goal arrived soon after, McKeown converting a penalty after Coleman was impeded. Points from Conan Doris and the increasingly influential O’Neill at centre forward pushed Ardboe back into the lead as the intensity reached a crescendo.
Burren, however, responded when they needed to. Points from Murdock and Kelly steadied the ship before McKeown levelled once again. In the closing stages, Murdock and the industrious Michael Trainor nudged Burren two clear as time ebbed away.
Ardboe pressed desperately for a goal, and came close, only for Burren keeper Patrick McAllister to deny O’Neill with a crucial save. A late McKeown free reduced the gap, but it wasn’t enough as the exemplary Maggie Farrelly blew the final whistle to the delight of the large Burren support.
An understandably delighted Burren manager Martin Brennan said afterwards: “We are delighted to be through to the semi-final. Our lads put in a great performance today against a strong Ardboe team. They showed unbelievable grit and character right to the end. We needed strong characters to stand up in those last few minutes and thankfully we had the boys to do it. It was a superb game of football.”
Burren will have plenty to work on ahead of the semi-final, but having overcome Ardboe, they will take some stopping as they bid to become the first team to win the coveted Paul McGirr trophy for a third time.
Ardboe - Senan Devlin, Jimmy Canavan, Cahir McKeown, Joe Gillespie, Matthew Mallon, Daire McKeown, Shea McGinley, Jack Muldoon, Luke Muldoon, Brogan Devlin, Ruairi O’Neill (0-3), Delaney Lavery, Conan Doris (0-1), Odhran Coleman (0-2, 2F), Ciaran McKeown (2-4, 3F, 1 Pen)
Subs: Jamie Devlin
Burren - Patrick McAllister, Joe McGovern, Eoin Coulter, Ben Downey, Odhran Trainor, Cillian McCarthy, Patrick Murtagh (0-1), Jay Cunningham, Dylan Kelly (0-1, 1F), Sam Murdock (0-8, 8F), Ethan Harty (0-1), Lorcan McMeel, Michael Trainor (0-1), Shane McGreevy, Jonny Denner (1-2)
Subs: Patrick Cunningham for McMeel, Lorcan Rownt
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