An end of year review, but not an end of season one. With the leagues being halted halfway through, the final tables won’t be confirmed until 2021.
Some sides experienced success and progress in 2020 while others will hope to improve in the new year.
We take a look at how all 13 Junior teams got on this year and how they may look to improve once action returns.
Eire Og:
Top of the table with six wins from six outings, Eire Og put in a great league shift in 2020 and look to climb their way back to Division 2B.
Following their relegation from Intermediate last year, Eire Og’s one target would have been to bounce straight back up. They’ve put themselves in a strong position to do so.
Their championship campaign didn’t turn out as expected and they were knocked out at the quarter final stages by eventual champions Forkhill.
A below-par display was still enough to get past Lissummon, with the Craigavon side sneaking through 0-8 to 0-6.
They improved against Forkhill, dragging the game to extra time before losing out by three. They will have felt hard done by as a harsh black card ended their challenge.
Dorsey Emmets:
Before the league was stopped, Dorsey had got themselves into a great position to fight for a promotion place and will continue to do so if the league recommences.
After seven games, Dorsey dropped just two points, winning six of their encounters, with Derrynoose the only blemish on their record, to earn second place.
Tenth spot was the best they could do last season, although they did experience a better championship run in 2019 than they did this year.
They came up against a rampant Belleek side in the quarter final and were dumped out at this stage of the competition, 2-15 to 1-8.
Crossmaglen IIs:
Relegated from Intermediate football last season, Cross held the same goal as Eire Og this year in gaining promotion.
A decent league campaign saw them win five of their seven games to pick up third place in the table with a return to 2B still on the cards.
Cross boasted a rumoured star-studded line up that didn’t materialise, and they will have been disappointed in their championship experience.
They gained an important win over O’Hanlon’s but Derrynoose proved much too strong in the quarter final to win 3-12 to 1-5.
Derrynoose:
While the season is not yet complete, Derrynoose will be disappointed in what 2020 had to offer in terms of championship.
They made the decider in 2019 and hoped to go one better this season but couldn’t get over the line against Forkhill in the semi-final.
They were much too good for Crossmaglen in the quarter final and lost out in their last four clash by a single point.
They dropped just two points in their six league outings, meaning they hold a realistic chance of promotion when league action returns.
Forkhill:
Mission complete in 2020 for Forkhill as they finally got their hands on the Sean Quinn Cup, but they had to fight for it.
Two extra times, a replay and a one-point win in the semi-final signifies as tough a championship campaign as you can imagine.
They needed extra time to shake off Eire Og while earning a place in the showpiece by nipping past Derrynoose with a point to spare.
Although in a winning position in the final, Belleek fought their way back and brought the game to a replay.
Under the lights in the Athletic Grounds, it was Forkhill who grabbed the levelling score this time and were much the better team in extra time to land the ultimate prize.
Lissummon:
Three wins from five games sees Lissummon sit sixth in the Junior league, six points off the top of the table.
If the leagues are to be played in the new year, Lissummon will hold the target of remaining in the top half of the table.
The lost their opening championship meeting against Eire Og, but would have been pleasantly pleased with their performance.
They really took the game to the favourites and held the Craigavon side to just one point in the second period, but were left to rue some missed chances.
Redmond O’Hanlon’s:
O’Hanlon’s currently hold an identical record to Lissummon, who sit just above them in the league due to score difference.
Three wins and two draws leave O’Hanlon’s in seventh position with six points, tied with Lissummon and Clady.
Redmond O’Hanlon’s gave a good account of themselves in the Junior Championship, although they lost out in the first-round vs Cross IIs.
Trailing by four (0-10 to 0-6) at the interval, the underdogs won the second half but were ultimately beaten by two, 0-18 to 0-16.
Clady:
Not the year Clady would have wanted, they have a lot of work to do if they want to climb the table if the league continues in 2021.
They played the most games from any team in the Junior Division, with eight outings this season, but currently sit on six points.
Five loses tells its own tale in the league while their championship campaign didn’t go to plan either, losing to rivals Belleek.
They did produce a good second half showing, rattling the net three times, but let Belleek build up too much of a lead by the break.
Belleek:
Surprisingly, Belleek find themselves in the bottom half of the Junior Division, having only picked up five points from five games.
Their championship run was hugely impressive however and Belleek will be distraught at how their campaign ended.
Following huge wins over Clady, Dorsey and Newtown, they faced a heavily fancied Forkhill in the final and gave as good as they got.
Perhaps slightly ran out of steam in extra time of the replay but deserve massive credit for putting in two brilliant performances in both deciders.
Newtown:
Newtown were the surprise package of the Junior Championship this season, reaching the last four of the competition.
To do so they only had to win one game, but still this is a year that brought plenty of joy to the St Michael’s club.
They dramatically came through their opening round tie against Corrinshego, winning on penalties following a draw after extra time.
However, Belleek proved a step too far in the semi-finals, winning easily, but Newtown will look forward to next year with something to build on.
Corrinshego:
A disappointing season for the Thomas Davis club, as they picked up just two victories in their seven games.
They won their opening league tie away to Mullabrack, with four points to spare, but this proved to be their only win of the league campaign.
Corrinshego shipped several heavy defeats in preparation for the championship, where they once again defeated Mullabrack, 0-11 to 1-7.
Extra time was required in their quarter final clash against Newtown and even then the sides couldn’t be separated, with St Michael’s eventually winning on penalties.
Killeavy IIs:
2020 proved a difficult season for Killeavy IIs, who failed to win a single game and are joint bottom of the table.
They featured in seven league matches before games were halted and were defeated in all seven of those outings.
Championship season didn’t improve things much for the South Armagh side, as they were on the losing end of their only encounter.
They were fit to push Dorsey Emmets all the way, but just fell short, losing out by two points in the end, 1-9 to 0-10.
Mullabrack:
Once again Mullabrack find themselves stuck at the foot of the division, but progress was seen to be made this season.
They failed to win any games but closed the gap on some of the teams featuring in the bottom end of the table.
They pushed Corrinshego and Newtown all the way in their opening league games and were unlucky not to gain any points.
Similarly in the championship they almost claimed a famous win, ahead at half time, but ultimately defeated by one against Corrinshego.
