Danske Bank MacRory Cup semi-final
St Patrick’s, Maghera v St Patrick’s, Armagh
(Sunday, Derrylaughan, 2pm)
BETWEEN 2003 and 2012 eight Danske Bank MacRory Cup finals came and went without a team from St Patrick’s, Maghera appearing in them. It was the longest drought since the school first reached a decider in 1976.
Eight years have now passed since Conor Glass raised the trophy after the 2016 defeat of St Paul’s, Bessbrook.
Another generation of students have gone through the school without experiencing the MacRory final atmosphere, although there was probably plenty of excitement coming up to the 2020 final until Covid forced Ulster Schools’ GAA to abandon the final and cast two sets of medals to share between Maghera and St Colman’s, Newry.
St Patrick’s, Armagh sit just behind Maghera in third place on the winners’ table with 14 titles, the last one inspired by Ronan Clarke and Sean Cavannagh in Millennium year.
That came 47 years after their last crown and they haven’t reached a final since, although there were a couple of close shaves a few years ago.
Both schools are thirsting for a trip to The Box-It Athletic Grounds on the second weekend of February. Both also made their supporters sweat on the outcome of their low-scoring quarter-finals.
Armagh had to fight back from a 0-8 to 1-2 deficit after 52 minutes to take Abbey CBS to extra-time in the Athletic Grounds a fortnight ago. With just a point for each in extra-time, the game had to be decided on penalties and Conal McCann saved two shots to get his side through.
Maghera were also staring defeat in the face 10 days ago in Owenbeg. Added time was starting in their derby with a fancied St Mary’s, Magherafelt team and they were 0-8 to 0-5 down. Turlough McHugh grabbed a goal after a shot for a point had dropped short into his hands. Then Cormac óg McCloskey kicked the winner before Magherafelt could recover from the goal.
Both teams managed to retain their unbeaten record in the competition this year with similar scores in the play-offs. However, Armagh ran up higher scores in their group games.
Maghera had a couple of points to spare in ties against St Ronan’s, Lurgan and St Patrick’s, Cavan, neither of whom made it past Christmas in the competition.
The Derry side is more patient in their approach, perhaps a nod to the coaching of recently-retired Derry star Chrissy McKaigue, who takes the team along with Sean Marty Lockhart and Willie McAteer.
They have a lot of talent in their ranks, including six players who have All-Ireland minor medals stored away – McHugh, Jack McCloy, Pádraig Haran, Pádraig O’Kane, Dara McGuckin and Rian Collins.
Derry defeated Armagh in both the Ulster and All-Ireland finals to pick up those medals, but strangely none of the St Patrick’s, Armagh players started that final. There were, however, five in the Orchard panel – Caomh Agnew, Oisín Gribben, Aodhán McGrane, Dara Gillan and Donncha Gribben.
McGrane started the late quarter-final comeback against Abbey with a point and contributed the equaliser in extra-time, with Oisín Gribben also on the score-sheet in that game. They will fancy their chances, especially since the game is yet again a home fixture for them.
The indications are that it will be a low-scoring encounter and therefore the team with the most patience is likely to edge home. Maghera’s hunger might just see them over the line.
