Diarmaid McNulty is in his second year at the helm of Omagh CBS’s MacRory Cup squad and he is hoping that the winning run continues as they put their title on the line when facing St Patrick’s Academy, Dungannon this Sunday.
It’s the second all Tyrone final in a row and Diarmaid knows that they are in for a massive test with current form indicating that there is little between the two sides.
“I’m just delighted that Omagh CBS are going into another battle and Dungannon are in the road and looking forward to a real ding dong game,” he said.
“I’m not a betting man but based on both sides games in the knockout stages this is going to be very tight and will likely go down to the wire. It’s a game that we are looking forward to and it should be a cracking encounter against what is a very good Dungannon team.”
Omagh CBS have six starters from last season’s all conquering side including team Captain Callum Daly and top scorer Ruairi McCullagh but the new players have all stepped up to the plate on their march to the decider.
“We have seven players on our starting team who got no minutes last year,” said McNulty.
“People say that you have got X, Y and Z from last year but seven new players getting exposed at this level is massive and I’m delighted for them because they have stepped up and shown that they can compete at this level and the trust within the group is excellent.
The standard of training has been brilliant and it has really pushed everyone on and its really important for the newcomers this season to make their own mark for the school in MacRory Cup football.”
Omagh had to withstand a spirited comeback from St Mary’s, Magherafelt in the semi final and Diarmaid knows that they will have to play better against opponents that he rates highly.
“There are things from that display that we have to work on and perhaps that’s no bad way going into a final knowing that you have wee things to tweak and get better at so that will help sharpen the mind as well as the body,” he stated.
“I am mightily impressed with the way Dungannon have got through to the final.
“You only have to look at the quality of their management team and coaches, they have top men on the line pushing them on so you know just how good they are going to be and how well prepared they are going to be.
They have the experience of being in tight battles in both the group games as well as the quarter finals and semi finals and have found a way of winning each time and that no doubt will stand to them.”