Cathair was part of the Derry U16 Football team that won the Buncrana Cup, defeating Monaghan in the semi- final and then Tyrone in the final with a score line of 1-20 to 2-07. The Buncrana Cup is considered the premier inter-county competition in Ulster at Under 16 level. This is the 2nd time Derry won the competition in its ten year history.
Cathair played his part in the Derry setup magnificently, scoring 0-04 in the final, 1-01 in the semi-final and a total of ?-?? in the group stages. Cathair is one of two Derry players picked by Tony Scullion to represent Ulster in an Under 16 competition in early November in London. St. Matthew’s Drumsurn wish him and Ulster the best of luck in the competition.
Semi Final : Derry 3-07 Monagahan 0-08
With the game played in perfect conditions, it was Derry who got off to the better start - scoring 1-03 in 10 minutes before Monaghan could get on the score sheet. The scoring burst continued for the men in red with Adrian Trainor scoring Derry’s second goal after 11 minutes to put the Oak leaf men 2-06 to 0-01 up.
The second half was a much cagier contest with Monaghan getting the opening point to make it 2-06 to 0-05.
However that was as close as they came to the Derry team who closed the half with a goal and a point to Monaghan’s two points to win the match with a score of 3-07 to 0-08.
Final: Derry 1-20 Tyrone 2-07
Like the Monaghan game the final began with a Derry scoring burst. Within two minutes of the throw in, Derry players Shane Farren and Michael Warnock had each registered points.
Tyrone however weren’t going to let Derry have it all their own way and after 7 minutes scored a goal from a high ball into the square which wasn’t dealt with by the Derry defense?
Derry replied scoring three unanswered points to settle the nerves. However, Tyrone struck again with a goal after 14 minutes, to go 0-05 to 2-01 up. Derry outscore Tyrone by 1-04 to 0-03 in the final 11 minutes of the first half putting them in the lead at the interval 1-09 to 2-04.
The opening two minutes of the second half saw Tyrone and Derry exchange a point each. From then on Derry took control and never looked back in what was an excellent final.
Derry Buncrana Cup Squad 2009
Ardmore: Eoghan Dooher; Ballymaguigan: Christopher Henry; Banagher: Shane Farren; Claudy: Niall O’Kane; Craigbane: Ruairi Moore; Desertmartin: Adrian Trainor, Martin Breen; Drumsurn: Cathair Friel; Dungiven: Brian Óg McGilligan, Sean McNicholl; Glack: Kieran McIntyre; Glen: Michael Warnock, Emmett Bradley, Odhran Glass, Gavin Tallon, Connor Carville; Glenullin: Neil McNicholl; Kilrea: Jack Kielt, Dermot Morrow, Dermot McWilliams, Joe Morgan; Loup: Caolin McGinley, Thomas McVey, Anthony O’Neill; Magherafelt: Fergal Duffin, Antone McElhone, Niall Higgins; Newbridge: Nathan Rocks, Ciaron McLarnon; Slaughtmanus: Damian Barr; Slaughtneil: Pearse McGrath; Swatragh: Connor McAtamney, James Kearney; Steelstown: Brian Scallon. Coaches: Karl Conlan, Martin McWilliams, Martin Boyle and Jason Muldoon .