MacLarnon, Markey, Faul, Ward, Nolan Reach Knock-Out

City sides have strong hand as race for MacLarnon glory reaches knock-out stages

By Seamas McAleenan Published in The Irish News 23rd December 2026

There has been a lot of football games over the past fortnight and quarter-final line-ups are almost complete across the various senior grades.

Friday’s 2-14 to 2-4 win by Dean Maguire, Carrickmore over last year’s Markey Cup winners St Patrick’s, Keady has filled in the remaining gap in the Danske Bank MacLarnon Cup schedule.

The Tyrone school will now travel to a Belfast venue to play St Mary’s CBGS, who topped Group C and went straight through to the quarter-finals, which are set for early in the new term.

Holy Trinity, Cookstown beat St Malachy’s, Belfast by 3-18 to 1-11 in their qualifier on Thursday. They also have to travel to Belfast, to meet Rathmore Grammar, winners of Group B on scoring difference.

There will be a third quarter-final in Belfast. Aquinas Grammar will be playing St Louis’, Ballymena on Tuesday, January 13 in Cherryvale. The mid-Antrim outfit were surprise 4-8 to 1-2 winners over Lecale Trinity last week in Ardoyne.

The last of the quarter-finals will see St Eunan’s, Letterkenny hosting St Malachy’s, Castlewellan – who beat Our Lady & St Patrick’s, Knock 0-16 to 1-6 to reach the last eight.

In the Danske Bank Markey Cup, no fewer than five Donegal schools remain in contention. Should St Columba’s, Stranorlar defeat St Louis’, Killeen in the last of the play-offs, the county will definitely have two teams through to the semi-finals.

Stranorlar’s play-off was delayed as they were involved in the Danske Bank Casement Shield hurling final last week – where they lost to St Michael’s, Enniskillen. Carndonagh Community School await the winner of their play-off with Kilkeel.

There is already an all-Donegal quarter-final, with Loreto, Milford taking on St Columba’s, Glenties.

Meanwhile Pobailscoil, Ghaoth Dobhair will play Virginia College. The only quarter-final not involving a Donegal school will return either a Tyrone or Down representative with St Ciaran’s, Ballygawley slight favourites to take out a young St Mark’s, Warrenpoint team.

Both the MacLarnon and Markey Cup competitions have an All-Ireland dimension in late February. So too does the Danske Bank Faul Cup.

While there are four Donegal schools in the mix, including Coláiste na Carraige and Coláiste Ailigh in separate play-offs, there are three from Cavan, two from Derry and Holy Cross, Strabane.

Holy Cross will take on St Aidan’s, Cootehill on January 9, while a day earlier, Pobailscoil Chloich Cheannfhaola from Falcarragh are up against last year’s beaten finalists Lumen Christi. Largy College, Clones will take on either St Clare’s, Ballyjamesduff or Coláiste na Carraige, who have their play-off on January 6 in Bawnboy.

The other play-off is between the Gaelscoilanna of Coláiste Ailigh, Letterkenny and Dungiven, with the winner up against Kingscourt.

In the Danske Bank Ward Cup, the seeded teams are St Kevin’s, Lisnaskea; Coláiste Feirste; St Joseph’s, Crossmaglen and St Patrick’s, Dungiven who play St Patrick’s, Banbridge; Breifne College, Cavan; St Mogue’s, Bawnboy and Inver College, Carrickmacross respectively.

Finally, at senior level, there are just five teams still in contention for the Danske Bank Nolan Cup. Sperrin Integrated and St Patrick’s, Lisburn have an outstanding quarter-final down for decision on the first week of the new term.

The winner will then play Slemish Integrated in a semi-final, with a north coast derby between Dominican, Portstewart and St Mary’s, Limavady in the other side of the draw.

The Danske Bank U16 Pat King Cup final has been held over until Thursday, January 8. It features St Joseph’s, Coalisland and Gaelcholáiste Dhoire.

FIXTURES

(times and venues TBC unless stated)

Danske Bank MacLarnon Cup quarter-finals

Tuesday 13th January Rathmore Belfast V Holy Trinity Cookstown 2pm St. Brigids Belfast
Tuesday 13th January Aquinas Belfast v St Louis’ Ballymena 3pm Cherryvale
Friday 9th January St Eunan’s Letterkenny V St Malachy’s Castlewellan 4:30pm MUSA
TBC St Mary’s CBS Belfast V Dean Maguirc Carrickmore

Danske Bank Markey Cup

Play-off:

St Columba’s, Stranorlar v St Louis’, Killeen

Quarter-finals:

Carndonagh CS v St Columba’s, Stranorlar / St Louis’, Killeen
St Ciaran’s, Ballygawley v St Mark’s, Warrenpoint
Virginia College, Cavan v Pobailscoil Ghaoth Dobhair
Loreto, Milford v St Columba’s, Glenties

Danske Bank Faul Cup

Play-offs:

St Clare’s, Ballyjamesduff v Coláiste na Carraige (January 6, Bawnboy, 12.30pm)
Coláiste Ailigh, Letterkenny v Gaelcholáiste Dhoire

Quarter-finals:

Largy College, Clones v Ballyjamesduff / Coláiste na Carraige
Coláiste Ailigh / Gaelcholáiste Dhoire v Holy Cross, Strabane v St Aidan’s, Cootehill (Friday, January 9)
Pobailscoil Chloich Cheannfhaola v Lumen Christi, Derry (Thursday, January 8)

Danske Bank Ward Cup quarter-finals

St Kevin’s, Lisnaskea v St Patrick’s, Banbridge
Coláiste Feirste v Breifne College, Cavan
St Joseph’s, Crossmaglen v St Mogue’s, Bawnboy
St Patrick’s, Dungiven v Inver College, Carrickmacross

Danske Bank Nolan Cup

Quarter-final:

Sperrin Integrated v St Patrick’s, Lisburn

Semi-finals:

Slemish Integrated v QF winner
St Mary’s, Limavady v Dominican, Portstewart