Saturday, November 1
AIB Ulster Club SFC preliminary round
Newbridge (Derry) v Dunloy (Antrim) (Owenbeg, 6pm)
Newbridge were the new kids on the block last year, having won their first county title since 1989, and lost out to Armagh’s Clann Éireann in the first round of Ulster. Having gone back-to-back, the Sean O’Learys club will look to make a name for themselves in the provincial series, while it’s Dunloy who enter the game after ending a long famine in their own county.
Verdict Newbridge
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AIB Ulster Club IFC preliminary round
Glenullin (Derry) v Moneyglass (Antrim) (Owenbeg, 4pm)
Glenullin are back in the competition for the third time in four years. Their previous participation was sandwiched by two Derry teams that went all the way in Ulster, Steelstown (2021) and Ballinderry (2024), so they’ll be keen to stamp their authority on the competition. Moneyglass competed in the Ulster final way back in 2004, so they do have a bit of pedigree, but they’re up against it heading to Owenbeg this weekend.
Verdict: Glenullin
Read more: ‘Glenullin are huge favourites but the game’s not played on paper…’ St Ergnat’s put their Money where their mouth is for Ulster intermediate opener
AIB Ulster Club JFC quarter-final
Donagh (Fermanagh) v St Agnes’s (Antrim) (Brewster Park, 1.30pm)
Outside of St Teresa’s in 2009, no other Antrim team has competed in the Ulster JFC final. Belnaleck are the only Fermanagh representatives to ever go that far. Either St Patrick’s, Donagh or St Agnes’s will be 60 minutes away from an Ulster final if they can get through this weekend and the home venue of Brewster Park may just edge Donagh over the line.
Verdict: Donagh
AIB Ulster Club IHC quarter-final
Glenariffe (Antrim) v Liatroim (Down) (Loughgiel, 1.30pm)
Liatroim won the competition three years ago, when they last entered it, and have a lot of the same players coming back looking another Ulster medal.
Antrim club hurling is traditionally strong at this level of course, having won 13 of the 20 provincial titles, so that will provide Glenariffe with plenty of incentive to go deep into the tournament.
Verdict: Glenariffe
Read more: Liatroim leaning on previous Ulster experience says Pearse Óg McCrickard
AIB Ulster Club JHC quarter-final
Cuchulainn HC (Armagh) v Belleek (Fermanagh) (BOX-IT Athletic Grounds, 1.30pm)
Cuchulainn are back in the Ulster championship for the first time in a long time, having claimed the Armagh intermediate title, with their time in the senior coming to an abrupt end. They will have the comfort of being back at the BOX-IT Athletic Grounds, but Belleek will hold no fear of travelling to the Orchard county.
Erne Gaels lost out to the Armagh champions, Sean Treacys last year and will want to right those wrongs.
Verdict: Cuchulainns
Sunday, November 2
AIB Ulster Club JFC quarter-finals
Emyvale managers – Owen Lennon and Benny Lennon – prepare their side to take on Donegal opposition in their Ulster Championshop quarter-final fixture
Emyvale (Monaghan) v Carndonagh (Donegal) (St Tiernach’s Park, 1.30pm)
Emyvale are probably the favourites for the trophy given their history in the competition, having previously won it twice. The head into the campaign having won the league and championship double in Monaghan so they won’t be short on confidence.
Carndonagh lost last year’s Donegal final to Muff, who went all the way to the All-Ireland final, so they will believe they can have a huge say in this championship.
Verdict: Emyvale
Read more: Owen Lennon: Conor O’Donnell one of a number of Carndonagh threats
Clonmore (Armagh) v Munterconnaught (Cavan) (BOX-IT Athletic Grounds, 1.30pm)
Both sides were in action last weekend. Clonmore took care of business in Armagh, defeating Middletown after a replay, while Munterconnaught slaughtered Ardglass in the Ulster preliminary round, 6-19 to 1-10.
That scoring tally will have caught the eye of a Clonmore rearguard that didn’t concede a goal in the knock-out stages of the Armagh championship.
The Cavan men have a provincial win under their belt, which could stand them in good stead.
Verdict: Munterconnaught
Read more: G’wan the Munchies… Cavan champions Munterconnacht face Armagh’s Clonmore in Ulster junior championship quarter-final
Slaughtmanus (Derry) v Clogher (Tyrone) (Owenbeg, 3.30pm)
Steven McKenna’s Cloghrer take on Derry opponents Slaughtmanus for a place in the semi-finals
After winning a first junior championship in their history, Slaughtmanus will be excited to begin their Ulster voyage. Clogher ended a 25-year wait for a county title and they’ll be aiming to overturn their Derry foes when they travel to Owenbeg this weekend.
Verdict: Clogher
AIB Ulster Club IHC quarter-finals
Lisbellaw (Fermanagh) v Swatragh (Derry) (Brewster Park, 1.30pm)
Last year’s beaten finalists Swatragh will want to go one better this season having been so close 12 months ago, losing to Carey Faughs by just one point. Swatragh actually beat Lisbellaw in this same fixture in 2024, and will be favourites to do so again.
Verdict: Swatragh
Castleblayney (Monaghan) v Middletown (Armagh) (Castleblayney, 1.30pm)
Castleblayney edged this meeting last season, at the exact same stage, by the minimum of margins. Middletown, the dominant force in Armagh having won seven county titles on the bounce, will have revenge on their minds.
Verdict: Middletown
Read more: Sean Óg McGuinness: Middletown keen to reverse Castleblayney defeat in Ulster intermediate clash
St Eunan’s (Donegal) v Eire Óg (Tyrone) (O’Donnell Park, 1.30pm)
Donegal hurling is certainly on the up but St Eunan’s are coming up against an Eire Óg side that have been knocking on the door repeatedly over the last few years.
Eire Óg lost out to eventual winners Carey Faughs after penalties last year and will be eager to get the win.
Verdict: Eire Og
AIB Ulster Club JHC quarter-finals
Con Magees (Antrim) v Truagh (Monaghan) (Cushendall, 1.30pm)
Truagh are a side on the up having reached the senior final in Monaghan this year and they’ll want to give the Ulster championship a real crack.
Con Magees will be no pushovers, of course, and they’ll take a lot of beating.
Verdict: Con Magees
Castlewellan (Down) v Burt (Donegal) (Liatroim, 1.30pm)
Castlewellan won four from four in the Down championship, hammering Kilclief in the showpiece, while Burt suffered a hefty loss to Letterkenny in the intermediate final. Castlewellan may just hold the upper hand here.
Verdict: Castlewellan
Lavey (Derry) v Cootehill Celtic (Cavan) (Owenbeg, 1.30pm)
East Cavan Gaels competed in the decider last season so Cootehill, who featured in the 2023 campaign, will be looking to get to at least that stage.
A Derry club has won two of the last five championships at this level, including last year’s, so Lavey have that to live up to.
Verdict: Lavey
Read more:‘There is a great tradition in Lavey, but tradition has to be followed up’: Martin Convery hoping to build on emerging crop
