THE Danske Bank MacLarnon Cup is running a little behind schedule mainly due to the weather just before the Christmas break that led to pitches being unavailable.
The outstanding group games were sorted over the past fortnight and the quarter-finals were to be completed this week with semi-finals during the middle of next week.
However, so far only the play-off game between St Paul’s, Bessbrook and Our Lady’s & St Patrick’s, Knock has taken place and that resulted in a win for Bessbrook, who now take on St Louis, Ballymena tomorrow at Queen’s.
St Louis have quite a few of last year’s team that lost narrowly to eventual winners Carrickmacross at the same stage. These include Jamie McLaughlin, Conor Higgins, Aodhan McGarry, Conor McKenna, Kevin McCann and Paul Boyle.
Some of those have already collected Mageean Cup medals before Christmas and they topped their group in the MacLarnon playing those group games at the same time as the MacLarnon knock-out ties.
St Paul’s of course have been busy themselves and many of this panel helped the school win the Danske Bank Rannafast Cup title Sunday week ago.
They were workmanlike in Monday’s 2-10 to 2-5 win over Knock with a goal from Fergal Boylan close to the end the insurance score.
Finn Nolan and Gareth Murphy played well in defence in that game, while David Crilly was the key player in midfield. Up front Boylan and Ruairí O’Brien were always busy.
Today, there is an interesting evening clash in Owenbeg between Loreto, Milford and St Pius X, Magherafelt, two schools that have come close to winning in recent years. Indeed, in 2020, St Pius X were in the final that Covid scuppered.
Cormac Bateson, Sean Young Cahir Speirs, Tiernan Rocks and Callum Gribbin are all available to Magherafelt while county U20 Cian McMenamin and minors Eoghan Scott, Oisín Scanlon, John James Sweeney and Thomas Roache should provide a strong challenge for the Donegal side.
Tomorrow there is a derby feel about the clash of Aquinas and Rathmore Grammar in Coláiste Feirste.
Aquinas have been steadily improving over the past few years at underage level and they topped their group, although some of the games were pretty close.
Nevertheless, Tom McCarroll and Manus McCrossan forged a strong midfield partnership and Niall Duffy was impressive up front.
Rathmore have been busy over the past 10 days with Casement Cup hurling and they will want a quick lift after losing that final on Tuesday to St Mary’s, Magherafelt.
The St Joseph’s, Donaghmore v St Mary’s, Belfast game fell victim to the weather yesterday and has been re-fixed for Monday in MUSA.
Donaghmore, after a good run during last year’s Rannafast Cup, were noted as potential front-runners for a first-ever title.
Led by Tyrone minor Noah Grimes, they have topped their group and will be expected to beat the Belfast side.
St Mary’s finished second in Group C with Barrie Burns, Diarmuid O’Sullivan and Fionn Shannon the main players in the team.
Aquinas and Donaghmore should reach the semi-finals with the other two games liable to go either way.
FIXTURES
Thursday
Loreto CS, Milford v St Pius X, Magherafelt (Owenbeg, 5pm)
Friday
St Louis, Ballymena v St Paul’s, Bessbrook (QUB, 1pm)
Aquinas, Belfast v Rathmore, Belfast (Coláiste Feirste 2.30pm)
Monday, January 22
St Joseph’s, Donaghmore v St Mary’s, Belfast (MUSA, time TBC)
