fonaCAB St Paul’s Ulster Minor Tournament quarter-final
Fr Rock’s Cookstown v Mayobridge GAC
SUNDAY, 1pm, St Paul’s
When joint managers Francie Poland and Eoghan Woods rocked up to minor training in Mayobridge on Tuesday evening, Conor Keenan was the last man they expected to see as first man there.
Not for reasons of punctuality nor anything negative. In fact Francie Poland raves about the impact of the Keenans on Mayobridge GAC.
But just hours before that session, Conor Keenan learned of the passing of his grandmother.
At a tender age he is a young man of principle. Poland is keen to emphasise that he is one of a number that are wise beyond their years:
“They’re just a great bunch. They work so hard, they train so hard. They’re just a pleasure to coach.”
On top of all that. Mayobridge have a talented crop on their hands. Any group that makes it to St Paul’s have a golden generation of some kind, and this outfit have underlined their prowess with back-to-back minor titles in Down.
So here they are again. Last year Cavan Gaels pipped them in an almighty battle, but one the Mournemen still feel they could have won.
This year, against Kingscourt of Cavan this time, it was rarely out of their control. Their skill was there for all to see, like when Daniel Carr picked the ball up 40 metres out and sauntered the whole way home to raise what his manager describes as “a brilliant goal”.
But the character too, to hold on to a lead in these games that ebb and flow. These games that can take on a life of their own if you’re not careful:
“Last year we were definitely nervy, we took Cavan Gaels to extra-time and were beaten in the end.
“Our bench is definitely stronger this year. We had a panel of 23 or 24 last year, now we have 29.
“A lot of our U16′s have really stood up, they’ve seriously improved. Guys that might have been on the periphery last year are now getting off the bench.
“There’s been guys training hard, in the gym putting on size and they really just have no fear.”
A strong breeze created an old fashioned “game of two halves” as Poland says, with Carr and Corey Clerkin combining for a tidy 1-6 before a late Stars’ onslaught almost brought them back into it.
But Woods’ and Poland’s charges have experience in the bank. Recently they overcame An Ríocht, Ballyholland and Castlewellan amongst others to claim U19 success in Down.
But what’s more impressive is that starting outfit featured 12 of this St Paul’s crop.
In the minor league final against Kilcoo, they were five points down with just four minutes to go in the second period of extra-time. Two goals stole it at the death when they looked dead and buried.
So now it’s Fr Rock’s of Cookstown. Poland acknowledges the Tyrone men have the advantage of being able to watch Mayobridge in the preliminary round, but equally his side have minutes in the legs:
“You can spin it either way, we’ve had a game and you could argue when was their last? Any team coming up are going to be decent.
“Luke Neeson, Karol Wawrynkiewicz are names that have been popping up. They have a danger man at full-forward. They’ll take watching.
“Fingers crossed we can make it to the semi-final on Boxing Day.”