THURSDAY March 5 2020 seems like a lifetime ago. Yes, coronavirus had seeped into our consciousness but not to the extent where it’s currently dominating every single aspect of our lives.
A week ago we were wary but confident; confident in the most spectacular and inarticulate way possible that this whole coronavirus phenomenon would all just blow over.
But it hasn’t blown over.
Instead, it’s blown a hole in the sporting calendar - a small price to pay as we grapple with this dangerous, invisible, mysterious disease.
Last Thursday, I visited St Colman’s College on Violet Hill in Newry. It was my first visit to the college.
A kindly invite dropped in my in-box from Ronan McMahon, one of Cathal Murray’s MacRory Cup coaches and marketing co-ordinator at the college, to attend a press morning ahead of their showpiece decider with St Pat’s Maghera on St Patrick’s Day.
St Colman’s College is a magnificent setting. From its sprawling acreage of pitches to the endless, ornate corridors with its framed photographs of school teams and drama groups from yesteryear, each face captured in perfect youth.
Whoever decided to get all the St Colman’s players to wear their club colours for the press event was thinking ahead.
Armagh and Down sat side by side as members of the press filed into the gym hall.
Clonduff. Burren. Kilcoo. Crossmaglen. Killeavy. Clann Eireann. St John’s Drumnaquoile. Tullylish. Mullaghbawn. Carrickcruppen. Mayobridge. Dromintee. Ballyhegan. Ballyholland. Liatroim. Warrenpoint. Glenn. Annaclone. Newry Shamrocks.
Blood brothers, side by side, listening intently to their coaches and teachers, each of them soaking up these truly great days before living one of the biggest, most exhilarating events in their young lives.
The MacRory Cup final. St Patrick’s Day. ‘Live’ on TV. Thousands crammed into The Athletic Grounds and the endless screams of every single St Colman’s student, parent, grandparent, brother, sister, uncle, aunt and cousin.
On the field of dreams. This would be the day that they got to touch the sky.
On behalf of the press who attended the excellent event last Thursday morning, I would like to thank chief organiser Ronan McMahon. Not for the fruit scones or coffee or press pack – although gratefully received - but for insisting the squad of players give us - the 'meedja' - a round of applause. Just for being there.
It’s the first time I’ve ever been applauded by those I was there to interview.
PE teacher and long-serving manager Cathal Murray said a few words, as did Michael Doyle, coach and vice-principal.
Cormac McKinney, the principal, pressed the flesh of the local media before getting up to speak glowingly about how much of a privilege it was to have these young men representing St Colman’s.
After a couple of short speeches, reporters mingled with the players. I interviewed captain Sean O’Hare of Warrenpoint and Peter McGrane of Ballyhegan, a nephew of the great and always unassuming Paul McGrane.
You could quickly discern why young O’Hare was picked as team captain: mature and articulate beyond his years.
Likewise, Peter McGrane.
When speaking to these young men, you realise that good grace and manners are an integral part of the process of pursuing sporting excellence.
“I’ve just a love for this place,” said McGrane of his surroundings.
“I didn’t appreciate it in first or second year but when you see your time is coming closer you just appreciate the love for this bunch of boys. Like, I know your club and county are special but nothing compares to being here with this bunch of lads. I don’t want to leave here.”
After the players posed for photographs out on the nearby 4G pitch, Michael Doyle kindly took me on a mini tour of the school.
The pristine corridors of St Colman’s are like walking through time.
On the right hand side, the framed team photographs dating back to the 1940s are just brilliant.
On the left hand side, wonderful framed images of the school's annual drama groups quietly hang.
The great Martin Walsh, an athlete and footballer of some renown, is celebrated on both sides of the corridors’ walls. One the right, he’s sitting with his arms folded with his MacRory Cup winning team-mates in 1949; on the left, he’s in the front row among the college’s cast of The Pirates of Penzance of 1945.
Michael stops and hails the great St Colman’s team that won their first Hogan Cup in 1966/67, led by Noel Moore, Jimmy Smyth, Peter Rooney and Paddy Turley.
A little-known fact outside the confines of Violet Hill is the story of Paddy Turley who had won an All-Ireland medal with Down in 1968 before winning provincial and All-Ireland honours with his school.
He was an All-Ireland winner before he was a MacRory Cup winner.
“Paddy told me the day he came back to the school with an All-Ireland medal everyone was here in this corridor to welcome him in. That would have been some thrill,” Michael says.
Walk a few more metres and you enter the Ray Morgan era. We stop at Michael’s Dalton Cup winning team.
Pointing to the photograph, he says: “I walk past it every day. I’ve a real sense of pride that we worked hard and I was a brick in the wall. A lot of players came through here with no success. I was very fortunate.”
A lot of that Dalton Cup side went on to win MacRory, among them were Martin Rodgers, Brian Walsh, and 4th years Paul Skelton and Greg Blaney.
With each step you get closer to the present – James McCartan, Benny Tierney, Diarmaid Marsden, Caolan Mooney.
St Colman’s were aiming to win their 20th MacRory Cup title on St Patrick’s Day. Until coronavirus wrecked the dreams of both sets of players.
No-one knows how long this crisis will last.
But when it does pass – no matter how long it takes - the Ulster Colleges should ensure that these young men get the chance to play the game.
The interview with Peter McGrane in the gym last Thursday morning lasted 13 minutes and 39 seconds. Sean O’Hare’s was 13 minutes and 59 seconds.
They were supposed to be feature pieces that would appear in The Irish News as part of the build-up to the 2020 MacRory Cup final next Tuesday.
I hope we get the chance to use them and that these young men aren’t deprived of one of the greatest days in their lives.
