Several sets of brothers will line out for their club teams this weekend as the Ulster Club SFC quarter-finals take centre stage
When Newbridge goalkeeper Nathan Rocks scanned his options from the restarts against Dunloy last Saturday night, he had a 40 per cent chance of hitting someone with McGrogan as their surname.
He’d a 93 per cent chance of finding a teammate who had a brother on the starting team as himself and corner forward Patrick McMullan are the only two players on the team not related to anyone else.
The other 13 outfield players are all brothers. Derry star Padraig McGrogan has two brothers on the team, Shane and Conor while siblings Callum McGrogan and Conleth are their cousins. Mark Grogan is another cousin.
Eamon and Sean Young are brothers while the three Dohertys, Conor, Mark and Oisin are also brothers.
The family connections run deep in several other teams who’ll be in action in the Ulster Club Championship this weekend.
Tyrone champions Loughmacrory have five Donaghy brothers in their camp, although Eoin Donaghy is sidelined through injury. They face a Kilcoo team backboned by the Branagan and Johnston clans. Niall, Aaron, Darryl and Eugene Branagan all started in the Down final as did Ryan, Shealan and Jerome Johnston.
Loughmacory’s only substitute in the Tyrone final win over Trillick was a certain Ryan Grimley. Earlier in the day, his two brothers Niall and Liam had already claimed a stunning victory in the Armagh decider as Madden won their first county title against Cullyhanna.
Then you’ve the Kelm siblings who played a key role as Erne Gaels defeated Derrygonnelly in the Fermanagh SFC final replay.
County star Ultan was Man-of-the-Match in the replay, but his brothers Oisin and Aogan also chipped in with scores with the family contributing 1-8 between them. They face Kingscourt of Cavan later this evening.
Perhaps the most experienced set of brothers in Ulster will be in action tomorrow in Clones when Scotstown face Donegal champions Naomh Conaill.
Darren Hughes (38) recently stepped away from county duty while his younger brother Kieran (35) bowed out ahead of the 2024 campaign, but they remain vital clogs for An Bhoth.
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