Gaelic Games

Image source, Inpho

Monaghan captain Micheal Bannigan feels Saturday's Dr McKenna Cup final against Donegal in Omagh [17:00 GMT] will be "great preparation" for their National League opener eight days later.

The Farneymen host Armagh in Divison one on Sunday, 25 January but before then, there is the opportunity to claim some early season silverware.

Gabriel Bannigan's men won 1-15 to 2-10 in their semi-final against Tyrone on Wednesday to set up a meeting with Jim McGuinness' side with Micheal, nephew of the Monaghan boss, finding the net in a man of the match performance.

"It's a great game to get seven days out from the National League, so it will be great preparation for us and we'll look forward to it," the Aughnammullen forward told BBC Sport NI.

"We're without Sigerson [universities' championship] players at the moment, like every team is. We're also without the Scotstown boys, so there are young boys getting their chance, which is brilliant."

Pre-season competitions were shelved in 2025, but their return in 2026 has proven popular despite issues regarding match cancellations and player availability.

They also afford the opportunity to build some early momentum prior to the league and Bannigan can only see positives from their Dr McKenna Cup run.

"At this time of the year, it beats training so we're happy," he added.

"A lot of young boys get their chance and a couple of years ago I got my chance [in the Dr McKenna Cup] so this is good for boys trying to break onto the panel because challenge games just aren't the same."

Image source, Inpho

Donegal boss Jim McGuinness said he will "probably manage and rotate some players" for the Dr McKenna Cup final with their Allianz Football League opener against Dublin to come.

McGuinness' side will take on Monaghan in the decider on Saturday after they overcame holders Derry 1-18 to 1-16 in the semi-final at Celtic Park on Wednesday.

The final against Monaghan, who picked up a two-point victory over Tyrone, comes just a week before Donegal's Division One opener against Dublin in Croke Park.

While McGuinness feels he needs to look after his panel to ensure they're ready for that league game, he believes facing the Farney men, who are also in the top division, will aid preparations.

"We played a Division One team tonight in many respects and Monaghan are the same, so it's great from that point of view," he told BBC Sport NI's Odhran Crumley.

"It's getting closer to the first [league] game so we'll probably manage and rotate some of the players and give fellas that haven't had tough minutes, some minutes and marry all those things to see if we can get ready for the first league game."

An unanswered 1-7 in 12 second-half minutes helped Donegal fight back to beat Derry and McGuinness was pleased with his side's response after the break.

"Very good challenge, Derry threw a lot at it in the first half and it's just great from our own point of view that we were able to look at players again and respond to the challenge they laid down, so happy to get into the final."

Image source, Inpho

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.

Image source, Getty Images

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."

Image source, Inpho

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."