Reigning Ulster and Armagh champions Dromintee make their long awaited return to the Paul McGirr Ulster U16 Club Championship this Sunday at 2:30 p.m. in Gardrum Park Dromore where they face neighbours Burren in the final quarter final. Armagh and Down clashes always have that bit of extra spice to them and this eagerly anticipated clash certainly will be no different with current and future county stars littering the pitch and past county stars on the sidelines for both sides.

Dromintee seek to defend the title they won in spectacular style last year, the clubs first ever Ulster title and they have as many as seven of last years team and panel still available. The names that stick out in particular are Tomas Fox and Gavin O’Rourke who not only won Ulster with their club in 2023 but went on the play for Armagh U17’s in the trek to the All Ireland U17 final in Croke Park. The experience of these two will prove vital for the Armagh champions, Fox will be anchoring their defence while O’Rourke has made the transition from full back where he was so impressive last year to the full forward line.

They survived a scare in a tough county final against Cullyhanna in early September and their attention turned straight away to the Paul McGirr title. Oisin Byrne was a goalscorer in last years final and along with Scott Harris and Ronan Martin forms a half forward line that look to be as good as any in the tournament. Jarlath O’Neill gets through a mountain of work in the midfield in front of a strong back line led by Fox, Reece Kelly and Oisin McCrink.

Dromintee are managed by Ray Harris, former Louth goalkeeper Shane McCoy, Peter Rice and Mark Mooney and will be no strangers to the Gardrum Park surroundings after last years escapades “We are very aware of the quality of teams that are taking part in this competition and will be looking no further than next Sunday’s encounter with neighbours Burren” said Harris.

“Our lads are looking forward to the challenge that the Burren team will present given the quality they have right across the pitch, they were seriously impressive in the preliminary round defeating Newtownbutler so it’s imperative the team keep a tight focus on the challenge in hand. As a club we are very privileged to be competing in such a prestigious competition and we would like to acknowledge the work the Dromore committee put in behind the scenes with School’s and County Boards to make it happen.”

Burren come into the quarter final having the advantage of already having one game under their belt defeating Newtownbutler 2-11 to 0-07, it was a game where they didn’t have everything their own way but they responded in style to come out on top. Star of the show in that game was corner forward Sam Murdock and Dromintee will be well aware of the threat the diminutive attacker offers.

No doubt they will have their homework done on Murdock but team captain Paidi Fitzpatrick, Luke and the towering Jay Cunningham will also take some watching in a potent attacking unit. Keegan Woods was a tower of strength at full back against Newtownbutler and the Down champions will once again be looking to the imposing midfield partnership of Dylan Kelly and Joe McGovern to give them the advantage in the possession stakes as they look to emulate the Burren sides of 2014 and 2019 who both annexed the Paul McGirr Cuchuillan trophy.

Guided by men of the caliber of All Ireland winners Breandan McKernan, Shorty Trainor and Garnett McFerran Burren will not be lacking in experience on the sideline, “We were glad to get through a tough physical battle with Newtonbutler because we hadn’t played a game in five weeks and we also had a few players involved with St Marks in the Rannafast semi-final on Tuesday.” Stated McKernan. “We are really looking forward to playing Dromintee, the championship holders from last year in the quarter finals. They’re the benchmark for us now and have the advantage of seeing us play in the preliminary round.

“We played them in a challenge match at the start of the year in Dromintee, both teams were short a few players and have 8 months development over them so you can’t really read much into that game. I think Dromintee have a few players still playing from last years panel and were part of Armagh’s U17 panel also. It is a massive challenge for us but that’s why you enjoy playing in the Paul McGirr Ulster Championship, to play against the best teams in Ulster and Dromintee are right up there.”

Both teams will be hoping their players have come through unscathed from Tuesday’s Rannafast semi-final between St Marks Warrenpoint and Abbey CBS. They will be very familiar with each other from schools football and there wont be a lot to separate the sides in what promises to be an enthralling encounter between the neighbouring clubs. Cavan champions Denn will be interested spectators as they await the winners in next weeks semi-final of the prestigious tournament Dromintee’s experience from last year may just tip the scales in their favour but a club with the tradition of provincial successes like Burren can never be written off and one has a feeling it may take extra time to decide the winner in this one.