Wishing Killygarry GAA U16’s the very best of luck..
The Paul McGirr Ulster U16 Club Championship is a celebration of young talent, community spirit and the enduring legacy of a young man whose memory continues to inspire, with all proceeds going directly to the Spirit of Paul McGirr Trust.
THE 2026 Paul McGirr Ulster U16 Club Championship gets under way at Dromore this weekend, with Killygarry carrying the flag for Cavan in a first round clash with Burren, the reigning Down and Paul McGirr Ulster champions
The Tyrone GAA Centre of Excellence in Garvaghy played host to the official launch of this yearโs competition, and anticipation is buildings ahead of the start of one of the GAAโs premier underage competitions.
๐ฝ๐ช๐ง๐ง๐๐ฃ (๐ฟ๐ค๐ฌ๐ฃ) ๐ซ ๐๐๐ก๐ก๐ฎ๐๐๐ง๐ง๐ฎ (๐พ๐๐ซ๐๐ฃ)
Preview by CLG An Droim Mรณr Naomh Damhnait – Dromore GFC
Burren (Down) v Killygarry (Cavan)
The second quarter-final of the 2026 Paul McGirr Ulster U16 Club Championship takes place at Pรกirc Ghearrdhroma on Sunday at 3.00 p.m., featuring Burren, the reigning Down and Paul McGirr Ulster champions, and a Killygarry side from Cavan that is rapidly emerging as a force in underage football.
Late last year, Burren annexed the Paul McGirr title, becoming the first club to win the prestigious competition on three occasions. No strangers to provincial success, the Mourne men were pushed to the limit in a pulsating Down Championship final before eventually emerging as two-point winners over Mayobridge in a high-scoring encounter. That experience of coming through a demanding county campaign should stand them in good stead as they look to take another step towards retaining their Ulster crown.
Team captain Ethan Harty is a towering presence at midfield, while up front the outstanding Shane McGreevy leads the line. McGreevy, who claimed the Man of the Match award in last year’s Paul McGirr final, possesses excellent ball-winning ability and will play a vital role in Burren’s attacking ambitions.
Managed by former Down star Gavin Murdock, the Mourne men have a wealth of experience at their disposal and will certainly not be overawed by the occasion.
โWe had a very tough battle to get out of Down, being pushed to the limit in all our knockout games, and were delighted to have made it through to the Paul McGirr competition,โ stated Murdock. โItโs a great experience for our lads and we look forward to defending the trophy.โ
With Cavan the only county in the province not to have staged an U16 championship this year, Killygarry were nominated to represent the county on the back of winning both the U14 and U15 county titles this season.
While not traditionally regarded as one of the big hitters in Cavan football, Killygarry have made significant strides at underage level, with years of hard work now beginning to pay dividends. This current crop is leading the way, offering plenty of encouragement for the future of the club, based on the outskirts of Cavan town.
Killygarry defeated Castlerahan in the Cavan U15 final and also impressed in the All-Ireland U15 Fรฉile. With several additional players joining the U15 squad to strengthen their panel, they will travel to Pรกirc Ghearrdhroma in confident mood.
Dragos Vinta, Xavier Reilly and Cormac Brady provide much of the driving force for a side renowned for its tremendous work rate, while in attack Michael Gilsenan and Finn Noonan will be tasked with keeping the Burren defence occupied.
The Killygarry management team, led by Ray Galligan, have invested enormous time and effort in developing this group over a number of years and will be delighted to see those efforts beginning to bear fruit.
โIt is a proud moment for Killygarry GAA and everyone involved with our U16 boys,โ stated Galligan. โTo earn the opportunity to compete in the prestigious Paul McGirr Championship is a fantastic achievement. The lads will have the honour of representing Killygarry and Cavan, and more importantly, getting the opportunity to play against the top teams in Ulster. It is a great reward for the commitment, hard work and dedication shown by the players and their management throughout the year. We will enjoy every minute, embrace the occasion and do ourselves, our families, our club and county proud. It’s great for Killygarry to be able to help support a great cause like this.โ
Killygarry may be venturing into unfamiliar territory at Ulster level, but with Cavan underage football continuing to develop, they will be determined to make their mark on the competition. Their work rate, enthusiasm and attacking threat could certainly make life difficult for the reigning champions.
However, they face a formidable challenge in Burren, a side that knows the demands of provincial competition and is well accustomed to the surroundings of Pรกirc Ghearrdhroma. Killygarry will be eager to ensure that the absence of a formal U16 county championship does not hamper their ambitions, but Burren’s experience, proven quality and knowledge of what it takes to win this competition may ultimately give the Down champions the edge as they seek to book their place in the semi-finals..
