THREE of the four Danske Bank MacLarnon Cup quarter-finals are due to be played by Friday evening, weather permitting.
On Thursday, Lecale Trinity and Dean Maguirc, Carrickmore are due to meet at 1pm.
Dean Maguirc secured their last-eight place with a 4-7 to 0-11 victory over St Mary’s CBGS, Belfast in a play-off just before the Christmas break.
Their goalscorers in that game were Pádraig Donaghy in the first minute, Shea Munroe, Kevin Cuddy and James McCallan, while goalkeeper Caolán Tracey saved a penalty at a key moment early in the game.
Winners of the Markey Cup two years ago, the mid-Tyrone outfit are competitive enough at this age-group, but could find Lecale Trinity a tough challenge.
The new east Down school, under the stewardship of Kilcoo and Down defender Miceál Rooney, topped their group despite losing the final game against neighbours St Malachy’s, Castlewellan. They were more or less guaranteed top spot going into that derby, so you probably can’t read too much into the 2-10 to 1-4 defeat.
The Red High, one of the schools in the amalgamation, reached the semi-finals last year and were beaten then by eventual All-Ireland champions Abbey Vocational from Donegal town. Around half of that team are still available including midfielders DJ Farrell and Dáire Higgins. Again as group winners they would be expected to reach the semi-finals, where they will face either St Pius X, Magherafelt or Rathmore Grammar, who meet in the last quarter-final on Tuesday, January 14.
The Belfast derby between last year’s beaten finalists Our Lady & St Patrick’s, Knock and Aquinas Grammar is scheduled for Friday at 2pm.
While Knock topped Group A to make the quarter-finals, Aquinas finished behind Patrician, Carrickmacross in Group C and therefore were involved in the pre-Christmas play-offs, where they overcame St Eunan’s, Letterkenny by 3-12 to 0-13. Conn Houston, JJ Higgins and Joe Mulgrew were the goalscorers.
Higgins has featured in Antrim underage teams, while Jack Wilson, Jude Dixon and Eoin Brown have featured for Down’s minors and the team unit is strong enough to suggest that Knock might well be coming in a little under the radar.
They also have a few of last year’s team available including cousins Liam Blaney and Dara Quinn as well as Eoin McHugh, Conor Boyle and Luke Doran and will start the game as favourites to progress to the semi-final.
Also on Friday, last season’s Markey Cup winners and All-Ireland finalists St Malachy’s, Castlewellan will attempt to take down Patrician, Carrickmacross, the pre-competition favourites.
St Malachy’s were impressive in winning their last group game against Lecale and then followed it up with a terrific first half against St Louis', Ballymena in the play-offs. Ruairí Madine drove them to an interval lead of 3-9 to 1-2 and they fared well against the wind as well until the final 10 minutes when they conceded a couple of goals and had to shore up defence to survive with three points to spare.
Patrician have taken a step back after a few seasons in the MacRory Cup – but have a some very experienced players still around the team such as defenders Dermot Farrelly and Conor Mulligan, who both played well for the Farney minors last season.
Verdict Patrician should be meeting Knock in one semi-final with Lecale waiting on the outcome of Tuesday’s game between St Pius X and Rathmore Grammar
