Danske Bank Corn Mac Neasa Final: Friday January 17 at 11.30am MUSA, Cookstown: All Saints College, Belfast v St John’s, Dromore
ST JOHN’S, Dromore are playing in their first Ulster final this morning, quite an achievement for the small rural school that boasts less than 200 on its roll.
And they have got there with some high-scoring returns along the way.
Following the group games which netted them three wins against Drumragh Integrated, St Mary's, Irvinestown and St John the Baptist, the west Tyrone side had a comprehensive 4-15 to 1-5 win over Sperrin Integrated with centre-forward Callum Welsh helping himself to 2-6.
Welsh was also in impressive scoring mode in the semi-final when the team ran in 8-15 to St Brigid’s, Derry’s 4-5 – although his excellent total of 3-7 was equalled by team-mate and captain Paschal Donnelly.
This pair has not surprisingly captured the headlines for most of the campaign and that has overshadowed the work of defenders Christy McGurren and Marcus Kelly who have kept things tidy at the back
All Saints, Belfast had one game less than their opponents.
They emerged from the Belfast group and went straight through into the semi-final where they also met a Derry city team.
This semi-final was more closely contested than the first, before All Saints came through by a margin of four points with Lamh Dhearg’s Declan Young and St Teresa’s Reece Massey playing a huge role in the heart of the defence.
Midfielder James Massey from Davitt’s is very strong and he should have a great battle with Paschal Donnelly while Dromore will need to keep a close eye on St Gall’s forward Liam Burns who has a real eye for goal.
Neither team has been in action for the past month with both semi-finals before the Christmas break and finding the rich scoring vein of the qualification games could be Dromore’s biggest challenge.
However St John’s know that these Ulster final opportunities don’t come around too often and that alone will give them the focus to make it count today.
St John’s: C Garrity, J Moore, M Kelly, R Campbell, E Liggett, C McGurren, M McCrystal, P Donnelly (capt), C McCann, F Healy, C Welsh, D McQuaid, C Hunter, N Hunter, E McCann.
Subs: P Marlowe, O McKenna, D McQuaid, C Monaghan, C O'Neill, D Taggart, S Donnelly, O McDonnell, E McFarland, R Teague.
All Saints: D Flannigan, P McNulty, D Young, D Doran, M óg Gaskin, R Massey (capt), Vi McIlkearney, J Ireland, J Winters, S Thompson, L Burns, L Gibson, M McConell, J Gilmore, E Toner
Subs: J McCarthy, D McClenaghan, M McCloskey, J Kelly, A Butler
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Danske Bank MacCormack Cup semi-final: Friday January 17 at 2pm in the Dub: St Patrick’s Academy v St Colman’s, Newry
IT HAS been a few years now since St Patrick’s Academy have given the impression that they could make waves in the Danske Bank MacRory Cup.
But topping Group A before Christmas has thrown the spotlight on them.
The jury might still be out though on the Academy as their group contained both the teams new to the MacRory, Scoileanna Inis Eoghain and Cathair Dhoire.
Both were clearly out of their depth in the games against the other two teams, the Academy and St Macartan’s.
The head to head with Monaghan ended in a high-scoring draw with Shane Donnelly hitting 2-2. So maybe it is difficult to judge where exactly the Academy are at.
This semi-final should give a good indication however.
St Colman’s have looked really good in parts of games – but they still only drew two of their three group matches, against Enniskillen and in the Newry derby.
They are bringing through last season’s All-Ireland winning Rannafast Cup squad and while there is talent in that bunch, they also showed a little naivety in some of the games.
Over the past few years St Colman’s have preferred to come through a little under the radar and the MacCormack Cup did not feature much in their plans. Maybe that will change this year as the team may need a few good hard games to tough them up for the MacRory quarter-finals next month.
Omagh are in the final already having seen off Maghera on Wednesday. A Tyrone derby therefore would have a certain appeal. However the west Tyrone outfit are more likely to be facing St Colman’s at the end of the month.
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Danske Bank Irish News Cup semi-final: Friday January 17 at 11.30am in the Dub: Our Lady’s, Castleblayney v St Pius X, Magherafelt
BOTH Our Lady’s, Castleblayney and St Pius X, Magherafelt come into this Danske Bank Irish News Cup semi-final as winners of their group and both will want to keep that winning run going ahead of their re-entry into the MacLarnon Cup at the quarter-final stage.
Castleblayney’s group looked pretty strong before the competition started with the champions St Patrick’s Downpatrick and St Paul’s Bessbrook and St Malachy’s Castlewellan, both of whom had played in the MacRory Cup in recent years.
Yet Our Lady’s topped the group with confident performances in each game and good leadership from the likes of Darren McMahon, Shay Duffy, Conor Eccles and a strong midfield pairing of Rory McGlynn and Joey Hughes.
The group that contained St Pius X might not look to be just as intimidating as ‘Blayney’s but Magherafelt won each game comfortably and they seem to be gaining momentum as they gain in confidence.
Captain Iarlaith Donaghy, Conor Devlin, Shane McGrogan and All-star Conor McAteer are just some of the players who have impressed on their current run.
It is 11 years since St Pius X won their only MacLarnon title.
They look to be strong this year and today could be the start of a run that will deliver silverware.
They should be Milford’s opponents in the final at the end of January.
