DID you know that Sean Blaney and Dermot McNicholl are the only players to have lifted the MacRory Cup twice as captain?
Or that Sean's son, Greg, was the 1981-winning captain that denied Dermot the opportunity to pick up a medal in each of his record five MacRory Cup final appearances?
Or that Frank Toman won three MacRory medals - two with St Colman's College 1967-8 and a third with St Mary's CBGS in 1971?
These and many more interesting facts have come to light in JA Walshe's research into the history of Ulster Colleges' premier GAA competition, work that is the basis for his book The MacRory Cup - The Story of Ulster Colleges' Senior Football, which is being launched tonight in St Patrick's College, Armagh.
The MacRory Cup was first contested in 1924, and the inaugural winners were St Patrick's, Armagh. The competition grew out of an annual soccer game between St Patrick's and St Macartan's, Monaghan which, in the years after 1916, was played under GAA Rules.
Now in its 93rd year, the MacRory Cup has become the most prestigious provincial schools' title in Ireland, and is an integral part of the GAA calendar in Ulster.
This book chronicles the history of a competition which has captivated the minds of generations of students, produced so many memorable contests and rivalries, thrilled thousands of spectators annually, and been the springboard for the emergence of countless inter-county stars.
JA Walshe's exhaustive research has produced much hidden detail which has enabled him to weave a riveting tale of the annual pursuit of this much prized title, and of its leading personalities.
He also traces the progress of each year's winners in the All-Ireland series (the Hogan Cup) and, for the very first time, tells the story of the Colleges' Interprovincial Championship which illuminated the period between 1927 and 1956.
Walshe is a former history teacher and schools inspector. Now living in Belfast, he is a native of Ruhillmore, Boherbue, Co Cork, and has written widely on a variety of historical topics including From Clonard to Croke - A History of St Gall's GAC 1910-2010, for which he received a GAA MacNamee Award.
His latest publication is a must-have addition to the bookshelves of all GAA stalwarts, and particularly all those former students who have known and experienced the exhilaration and intensity of a MacRory Cup campaign.
The Ulster Colleges' Council is co-ordinating a series of events over the next few weeks in a number of schools that have won the MacRory Cup and there is a general invitation to former players to come along and share their MacRory memories and meet up with others who helped write their piece of MacRory history.
BOOK TOUR DATES
(7pm each evening)
Tonight: St Patrick's College, Armagh Thursday, November 13: St Macartan's College, Monaghan Monday, November 17: St Colman's, Newry Thursday, November 20: St Patrick's, Maghera Monday, November 24: Abbey CBS, Newry Tuesday, November 25: Stormont Thursday, November 27: St Michael's, Enniskillen Thursday, December 4: St Patrick's, Cavan
* Books can be purchased by contacting any of the schools listed, Sean McGourty or any of the Ulster Colleges' Committee