Gaelic Games

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Armagh's win over Down in the Dr McKenna Cup has been overturned while Fermanagh's victory against Cavan has been null and void after the Ulster CCC found that ineligible players were fielded in both games.

The use of players who feature in the Sigerson Cup, which is against competition regulations, has led points deductions for Armagh and Fermanagh.

The Orchard County beat Down 3-10 to 0-10 in Section A at the Athletic Grounds on Wednesday, but it the victory has now been awarded to Conor Laverty's side.

It is understood that Armagh's inclusion of Fergal O'Brien (who attends St Mary's) and Aaron O'Neill (Dundalk Institute of Technology) breached the rules.

Fermanagh's 1-12 to 1-10 win over Cavan in Tempo in Section B has been wiped out with no team awarded the points due to both breaching competition regulations.

It is understood that Fermanagh's Fionan O'Brien and Cian O'Brien (both Ulster University) and Cavan's Darragh Lovett (TU Dublin) were the ineligible players.

In a statement, Ulster GAA said: "Following a meeting of Ulster CCC, reported breaches of Pre-season 3rd Level Policy & Regulations were reviewed, and the following decisions taken in relation to the fielding of ineligible players:

"The Fermanagh v Cavan game is null and void and no team is awarded the points.

"The Armagh v Down game is awarded to Down."

The two points awarded to Down moves them level with Tyrone, who they face in Pomeroy on Sunday.

Kieran McGeeney's side are bottom of Section A and without a point from their first two games.

Fermanagh, like Cavan, have no points in Section B and are both behind leaders Monaghan, who will progress to the semi-finals if they avoid defeat against the Ernesiders on Sunday.

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Cathal McShane says he is not closing the door on a potential return to Tyrone in the future, but insists he is enjoying his time with Strabane Athletic after stepping away from inter-county duty.

The All-Ireland winner signed for the Premier Intermediate soccer side last June after exiting the Red Hands panel before the All-Ireland series.

2019 All-Star winner McShane, who scored a goal in Tyrone's 2021 All-Ireland final victory over Mayo, is preparing to face Irish Premiership heavyweights Glentoran in the Irish Cup fifth round at Melvin Park Arena on Saturday (13:30 GMT).

"I wouldn't say it's ever closed," the three-time Ulster SFC winner told BBC Sport NI when asked about his Tyrone career.

"It [stepping away] is something I had to do at that time just to take a bit of a break for myself, just to get a few things right and basically a reset more than anything."

He added: "In the off-season I always play a bit of football. Maybe this time there was more made of it or whatever. For me, it's just about enjoying what I'm doing at the minute and seeing what the future holds.

"I would never say it's closed. I'll continue to work hard and make sure of my body and that I'm in the best shape possible. That's the plan going forward and you never know, we'll see the story going forward."

McShane joined Strabane in June after the club earned promotion to the third tier of the Irish League.

They faced Cliftonville in the Bet McLean last-16 in November, losing 5-2 at Solitude, but are hoping to pull off a massive upset when they host 23-time Irish Cup winners Glentoran on Saturday.

"They're a formidable side and have been doing fantastic," added McShane, who scored an extra-time winner for Strabane in their BetMcLean Cup win over Loughgall earlier this season.

"I've been keeping an eye on the results recently. They've a few ex-Derry players and Finn Harps players in there, they've a lot of top quality.

"We know we'll be up against it but our aim is to enjoy the occasion, give it our best shot and see how it pans out."

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Antrim manager Mark Doran says the "door is open" for Dermot McAleese to return to the county panel should he wish.

McAleese captained the Saffrons in 2025 but announced his inter-county retirement after 12 years at the end of the campaign.

Doran has been keen to enlist the services of the top players within the county and remains hopeful the Portglenone man will have a change of heart.

"You have to respect his decision, but I would be hoping over the next couple of weeks he will be involved," Doran told BBC Sport NI after Antrim's Dr McKenna Cup loss to Derry on Wednesday.

"Dermy is too good a player to be sitting out for Antrim and Antrim need their best players. Dermy knows the door is open and I would be hoping he will be with us."

Doran also confirmed goalkeeper Mick Byrne has stepped away for the time being.

"He has a few things to sort out and when someone asks that you have to give them that space," Doran continued.

Antrim trailed 0-9 to 0-7 at the half in Owenbeg on Wednesday, but failed to add to their tally in the second period despite having a number of chances to put the pressure on early in the second period.

The Oak Leafers took full advantage to kick on for a 2-16 to 0-7 win and Doran says his players will have to learn from the game ahead of their second Dr McKenna Cup game against Donegal in Toome n Sunday (13:30 GMT).

"At half-time we were reasonably happy," he said.

"With 20 minutes left we were still 9-7 [behind] and felt we missed three or four chances and could have been ahead, but to be fair to Derry, in the last 20 minutes they punished us.

"We have a lot to work on, but you win or you learn and hopefully we improve a lot over the next few weeks."

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Down manager Conor Laverty says his side's Dr McKenna Cup loss to Armagh on Wednesday was a "good learning curve" for the newcomers to his panel.

Laverty started with just seven of the side that featured in last year's All-Ireland preliminary quarter-final loss to Galway, opting to run his eye over those aiming to stake a claim for 2026.

Although his team came up empty-handed in their opening fixture of the year, the Kilcoo native was relatively happy with their evening's work.

"We're just delighted to get the run-out tonight," Laverty told BBC Sport NI.

"It was a great opportunity for some of the new players to get their first taste of inter-county football.

"Lads can do all the training and play challenge games, but it's a different environment, Once you come into the Athletic Grounds with a big crowd, that adds pressure to a performance, so you find out how lads will cope with that and it was a good learning curve for some of the lads tonight.

"There's a lot of lads playing for the first time in a Down jersey, so that's credit to them."

Down could force a three-way tie in Section A should they get the better of Tyrone in Pomeroy on Sunday (13:30 GMT), leaving it down to scoring difference to determine the group winner.

Laverty is aware of the task ahead but is happy to use the game as further preparation for the National League Division Three opener against Clare on 24 January.

"I watched the Armagh and Tyrone game the other night - two serious outfits and two of the best teams in the country," he continued.

"We know what a task it will be on Sunday, but it's another opportunity for our young players and new lads to see where they are at and that's how we are treating the McKenna Cup.

"As a management team, we are looking to broaden our panel and have players able to get to the level on match day, so it's no good not playing them in the McKenna Cup and then expecting them to get to that level in the National League."

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Fit-again Gareth McKinless is set for his first Derry appearance in 18 months in Wednesday's Dr McKenna Cup section C game against Antrim at Owenbeg (19:30 GMT).

Key defender McKinless, a 2023 All-Star, missed the entire 2025 campaign after suffering a cruciate injury during Ballinderry's run to the All-Ireland Club Intermediate final.

McKinless is named at centre-back by Oak Leaf boss Ciaran Meenagh, who is without two other All-Stars in Brendan Rogers and Shane McGuigan following their exertions in Slaughtneil's run to the All-Ireland Club Hurling semi-final.

Rogers' usual midfield partner Conor Glass is set for his McKenna Cup debut after being named on the bench, with Conor Doherty and Paul Cassidy paired in the middle.

Derry's opening McKenna Cup game against Donegal last weekend was called off because of safety and road travel conditions amid the recent cold snap, with the counties each awarded a point.

New Antrim boss Mark Doran is without several players for the Owenbeg game because of injury and Sigerson Cup involvement, including Peter Healy, who also missed Ballyboden's All-Ireland semi-final loss to Dingle last weekend.

Doran, who took the Antrim job following a stint with Slaughtneil, is already without midfielder Conor Stewart, who has taken time out to go travelling, and the retired Dermot McAleese.

The Saffrons boss does, however, have experienced operators at his disposal with James McAuley, Marc Jordan and Patrick McBride among those starting on Wednesday.

Also on Wednesday, Armagh host Down at the Athletic Grounds in section A as Fermanagh take on Cavan in Tempo in section B (both 19:30 GMT).

Derry: Ryan Scullion; Conor McCluskey, Padraig McGrogan, Diarmuid Baker; Shea Downey, Gareth McKinless, Mark Doherty; Conor Doherty, Paul Cassidy; Jack Doherty, Matthew Downey, Ethan Doherty; Niall Toner, Niall Loughlin, Lachlan Murray.

Subs: Shea McGuckin, Sean Kearney, Ryan Mulholland, Conor McAteer, Marty Bradley, Sean Young, Ruairi O Mianain, Conor Glass, Niall O'Donnell, Tommy Rogers.

Antrim: John McNabb; John Morgan, Kevin McCann, James McAuley; Gerard O'Neill, Eoghan McCabe, Marc Jordan; John Carron, Patrick Finnegan; Patrick McBride, Conor Small, Tom McFerran; Pat Shivers, Adam Loughran, Aidan McErlean.

Subs: Declan Heery, Sean O'Neill, Jack Lenehan, Dominic McEnhill, Oisin Doherty, Ruairi Hagan, Tom Shivers, Paul Bradley, Tomas McCann, Kevin Small, Conhuir Johnston.

Armagh: Blaine Hughes; Fionn Downey, Aaron McKay, James Morgan; Ruairi McDonald, Tiernan Kelly, Joe McElroy; Callum O'Neill, Daniel Magee; Padraig O'Keefe, Cian McConville, Sean Conlon; Greg McCabe, Oisin O'Neill, Fergal O'Brien.

Subs: Shea Magill, Ryan Duffy, Callum O'Neill, Conor Magennis, Joe McCann, Sean McCarthy, Gavin Duffy, Aaron O'Neill, Tomas McCormack, Dan McCarthy, Ethan Rafferty.

Down: John O'Hare; Patrick Brooks, Pierce Laverty, Pearse McPolin; Ruairi McCormack, Tom Smyth, Paddy McCarthy; Daniel Guinness, Tom Close; James Guinness, Pat Havern, John McGeough; Seamus Loughran, Eamon Brown, Adam Crimmins.

Fermanagh: Sean McNally; Jack McCann, Shaun McCarron, Oisin Smyth; Fionan O'Brien, Paul Breen, Josh Largo-Ellis; Joe McDade, Stephen McGullion; Brandon Horan, Darragh McGurn, Declan McCusker; Garvan Jones, Cian O'Brien, Gary McKenna.

Subs: Jack Kelly, Luke Flanagan, Shane McGullion, Jack Largo-Ellis, Ciaran Corrigan, Aogan Kelm, Lughaidh Donnelly, Garvin Quigley, Justin McDade, Keelan Fitzpatrick, Conor Love, Conor O'Hanlon, Diarmuid Owens, Oisin Swift, Oisin Kelm.

Cavan: Liam Brady; Jason McLoughlin, Paddy Meade, Ben McGahan; Oisin Brady, Conor Brady, Tristan Noack Hofmann; Ciaran Brady, Ryan Donohoe; Tiarnan Madden, Gearoid McKiernan, Peter Corrigan; Cormac O'Reilly, Caoimhan McGovern, Paddy Lynch.

Subs: Gary O'Rourke,. Eoin Clarke, Ciaran Brady, Colm O'Reilly, Ryan Tobin, Cian Shekleton, Ben Tully, Ryan Brady, Gerard Smith.

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Tyrone stalwart Mattie Donnelly admits it was "tough" to commit to county duties for 2026 after overcoming serious injuries in recent years.

Two-time All-Star Donnelly returned to inter-county action on Friday, scoring a goal in the Red Hands' opening Dr McKenna Cup win over Armagh at the Athletic Grounds.

The 35-year-old Trillick club-man made his Tyrone debut in 2010, and while his 2008 All-Ireland minor winning team-mate Peter Harte has stepped away from the panel, Donnelly has decided to embark on another season.

"Aye, it was [tough]," the 2021 All-Ireland winner told BBC Sport NI.

"You're always sort of on one-year contracts at this stage of the game. It was tough.

"Training's been tough, but I've enjoyed it, it's been energising with the new boys and the younger boys in, seeing them coming through and starting their journey, that's been exciting as well."

Tyrone pumped some new blood into their panel for Friday's 2-13 to 0-17 win over the Orchardmen, with Oisin O'Kane, Peter McCaughey, Conor O'Neill and Oisin Gormley all making their senior county debuts.

And Donnelly says he hopes the team can utilise the next generation throughout 2026 as O'Rourke's side attempt to build on last year's run to the All-Ireland semi-finals.

"There's definitely a good pipeline in Tyrone," added Donnelly.

"The country's well aware of that and that's what we need. We need that injection of quality footballers and quality people, it's exciting for Tyrone, it's a big step-up but the boys are well equipped to make that step-up.

"There's no denying, I'm the oldest now. It takes all sorts. Anything I can add to it, I'm willing to do so. We're trying to add all we can to the betterment of the Tyrone, that's what I'm trying to do week by week."

Odhran Crumley
BBC Sport NI Journalist

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Donegal and Derry's Dr McKenna Cup clash will not be rescheduled with both counties instead awarded one point each.

The meeting of the Ulster heavyweights was to take place at O'Donnell Park in Letterkenny on Sunday, but fell victim to the recent cold snap.

Despite officials deeming the pitch playable, the decision to call the game off was based on safety and road travel conditions.

With no weather forecast improvement due over the next 24 hours, it was not deemed practical to rearrange the game.

The impact of the adverse weather did not stop there.

Offaly and Antrim's Walsh Cup match was due to be played at O'Connor Park in Glenisk but, after heavy snowfall, the game was called off due to a frozen playing surface.

After Sunday's cancellation, Ciaran Meenagh's Derry will now get their Dr McKenna Cup campaign underway on Wednesday night when they welcome Antrim to Owenbeg.

Jim McGuinness' Donegal side will take to the field for first time since July's All-Ireland final defeat by Kerry, when they travel to face Antrim on Sunday, 11 January.

Venue change for Armagh-Down

Armagh's Dr McKenna Cup clash with neighbours Down on Wednesday night, will now take place at the Athletic Grounds.

The game was originally scheduled to take place at Pairc Esler, before the decision was made to move the game to another Mourne venue at Burren GAC, but a second venue change now sees the game moved to the home of Armagh football, although still with a 19:30 GMT throw-in.

There were 7,180 spectators in attendance for Armagh's opening Dr McKenna Cup fixture at the same venue where Kieran McGeeney's side lost out narrowly to Tyrone on Friday night.

David Mohan
BBC Sport NI journalist at Breffni Park

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Scotstown manager David McCague hailed his side's "massive effort" in their All-Ireland club football semi-final loss to St Brigid's and feels there are "lots of positives" to take into 2026.

The Ulster champions played their part in an intriguing battle against the Roscommon side, but could not make the most of their chances when seeking to hunt down the Connacht champions in the closing stages.

Trailing by four at the break, Scotstown had work to do in the second period and they seemed to get a head of steam in the final quarter, but a combination of wides and some fine saves prevented them from closing the gap.

Instead, it was Anthony Cunningham's side who advance into their second All-Ireland final in three years, but McCague was fulsome in his praise of his own team.

"The challenge was laid down at half-time to work our way back into the game and I thought we did that," the Scotstown boss told BBC Sport NI.

"We upped the rate of dispossessions we made and that led to chances but we just left too many of the chances behind and, at this level, that's the disappointing thing.

"Fellas didn't miss them on purpose and they took them on in that moment they thought was right. I trust them and back them 100 percent.

"We got the break of the ball in previous games to get us over the line but we just didn't get that today. It would have helped us to get close to St Brigid's and put a bit of pressure on them, but they are a fantastic team who will give the All-Ireland Club Championship final a serious rattle."

'We'll start building again in a few weeks'

While Scotstown are laden with household names in Monaghan and Ulster football, it took 36 years to return to this point after some near misses on the provincial stage in recent years.

Although they are backboned by inter-county stalwarts including Rory Beggan, Darren Hughes and Jack McCarron, McCague insists the future is bright despite their loss with a number of fresh faces bolstering their squad this year.

Ultimately, it was a disappointing day at Breffni Park for the Monaghan men, but McCague hopes their appearance in the All-Ireland series will give them an added hunger to go further next season.

"We'd be disappointed it took us 36 years to get back to this stage of the competition," he added.

"We got a taste of it this year and we're disappointed we haven't managed to win our semi-final, but we will start to look ahead to next year in a few weeks and start building again.

"Max Maguire, Tommy Mallen, Donnchadh Connolly to name three [of the younger crop who made an impact] - Sean Og McElwain missed out through injury - but there is so much to build on."

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Sunday's Dr McKenna Cup game between Donegal and Derry and the Walsh Cup match between Offaly and Antrim have been postponed due to the icy weather conditions.

In Letterkenny, despite the pitch being deemed as playable, the decision to postpone the match between Donegal and Derry was taken based on the current road conditions.

Offaly and Antrim's Walsh Cup match was due to be played at O'Connor Park in Glenisk but, after heavy snowfall, the game was called off due to a frozen playing surface.

Sunday's All-Ireland Club Football Championship semi-final between St Brigid's and Scotstown is still set to go ahead as planned.

A yellow weather warning for snow and ice is in place in Northern Ireland until noon on Monday with a snow and ice warning for Cavan, Donegal, Monaghan, Louth and the province of Connacht in the Republic of Ireland.

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Cavan manager Dermot McCabe says his side "didn't convert well" during their 0-16 to 0-13 defeat against Monaghan at Breffni Park in their opening Dr McKenna Cup game.

During a tight encounter, Cavan's Ryan Donohue, Paddy Lynch and Darragh Lovett scored to level the game heading into three minutes of additional time.

However, David Garland, Michael Bannigan and Eddie Walsh converted injury-time points to secure the victory for Monaghan against their Ulster rivals.

"We put the pressure on kick-outs and we didn't convert enough to get the win in the end," McCabe told BBC Sport NI.

"We had opportunities and I do think at times we didn't convert well. We had five drop shots which is a lot and you get punished.

"Monaghan are a strong Division One team and we have to tidy up on those things."

Cavan will look to register their first victory of the campaign when they go to Fermanagh on Wednesday, 7 January.

McCabe, who was taking charge of his first competitive game as Cavan boss, added that he was content that his side didn't pick up injuries ahead of that match.

"We had six debutants who made the start and three or four more who came on. Everyone has got through it unscathed," McCabe continued.

"We are only together six or seven weeks so, at this point, we are working on fitness and we haven't done a huge amount of tactical stuff.

"We have more game time into some of the guys who are a little bit more experienced and got debutants on the field."

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Clogher moved through to the All-Ireland Club Junior Football Championship final with a 2-13 to 0-9 win over Kiltimagh in Carrick-on-Shannon.

Ciaran Bogue struck a goal in each half to finish as top-scorer with 2-4, while Ryan McCaughey chipped in with five points including four from play as the Ulster champions took over after an even start.

The Tyrone side will now meet Ballymacelligott in the final at Croke Park on Sunday, 11 January [13:30 GMT] with the Kerry side defeating Grangenolvin in the other semi-final.

It was an even start to this semi-final with Clogher goalkeeper Rory McElroy's 45 cancelled out by Oisín Mulderrig.

The sides traded again in an even start before Ryan McCaughey and McElroy opened a two-point gap for the Tyrone men.

That margin remained in the 23rd minute when Bogue burst through to finish low to the net and after Thomas Keegan hit back with a free for the Mayo men, points from Bogue and Vincent Lowry helped Clogher into a 1-7 to 0-4 advantage at the break.

A point from Kiltimagh's Conor Mallee shortly after the restart hinted at a rally from the Connacht champions, but Ryan McCaughey and Bogue reasserted Clogher's dominance.

Paul Kelly's two-pointer rallied Kiltimagh briefly, but the game was put to bed with 10 minutes to play as Bogue cracked home his second goal with Clogher finishing with a flourish as McCaughey and Conor Shields added scores to seal their side's passage into the final.