Football

Colleges GAA review of year: Seismic shifts at all levels

St Patrick's College, Cavan celebrate winning the Macrory Cup against St Patrick's Academy, Dungannon
St Patrick's College, Cavan celebrate winning the Macrory Cup against St Patrick's Academy, Dungannon St Patrick's College, Cavan celebrate winning the Macrory Cup against St Patrick's Academy, Dungannon

SCHOOLS' GAA in Ulster is going through a major transition at the moment to arrive at the full integration of the Ulster Colleges’ and Vocational Schools’ councils by the end of next summer and a realignment of competitions at all levels.

Over the past couple of years, we have witnessed partial integration and schools writing their names on trophies for the first time, but that doesn’t explain the huge shift in focus witnessed over the past season at the top level of both football and hurling in Ulster colleges’ competitions.

The headline competitions both had winners back on the rostrum after many years in the doldrums, with the Danske Bank MacRory Cup going to St Patrick’s, Cavan and Mageean Cup success for St Louis', Ballymena. But at all levels, the winds of change are blowing.

Cavan had been winning through the underage grades, the only question was whether or not they could carry that winning formula through to St Patrick’s Day. St Eunan’s, Letterkenny were easily pushed aside in the quarter-final and Omagh CBS fared only marginally better in the semi-final.

Meanwhile, the other Tyrone contender - St Patrick’s Academy - served up a quarter-final shock by halting Maghera’s three in-a-row bid on a 2-10 to 0-9 scoreline and hit Bessbrook with a first-half whirlwind in the semis. The Academy, however, played second fiddle to a confident Cavan in the final, with Thomas Edward Donohue shooting the two goals in a 2-12 to 0-8 win.

Cavan couldn’t sustain their run, though, losing in extra-time in a thrilling Hogan Cup semi-final to a Pobalscoil Chorcra Dhuibhne team that subsequently won a second successive national title under Kerry boss Eamon Fitzmaurice’s stewardship. But Thomas Edward and the Breffni boys are back as strong contenders for the 2016 MacRory, although they are on a quarter-final collision course with MacCormack Cup champions St Patrick’s Academy. Maghera and St Colman’s are also in the mix in what, again, looks like an enthralling run-in to St Patrick’s Day.

Our Lady’s, Castleblayney won the first ever all-Monaghan MacLarnon Cup final, surprising a fancied Patrician High, Carrickmacross outfit on St Patrick’s Day.

In November 2014, St Macartan’s, Monaghan won their first Rannafast Cup title in 36 years and they battled their way back to set up a first all-Monaghan final last month. Patrician High, however, had come through the tougher end of the draw and were convincing winners on the night.

The Sem, though, bounced back from that setback to win a first ever Corn na nÓg crown a fortnight later, edging home by a point against a Maghera group that had beaten Cavan to win the Dalton title back in April.

Darragh Canavan fired St Ciaran’s, Ballygawley to an initial Rafferty Cup title at the expense of Holy Trinity, Cookstown, where his father Peter is the head of PE, while St Patrick’s, Downpatrick won a derby Loch an Iúir final against newcomers St Malachy’s, Castlewellan earlier this month.

Holy Cross, Strabane; St Patrick’s, Banbridge; St Joseph’s, Donaghmore and De La Salle, Downpatrick all won first titles down the grades, while the tragic death of Oisin McGrath from St Michael’s, Enniskillen prompted the introduction of the first proper knockout year eight competitions and wins for Omagh CBS, Holy Trinity, Cookstown and De La Salle, Downpatrick.

IN HURLING, this time last year, St Louis', Ballymena won their first Casement Cup title and 12 of that team followed through before Halloween to win the school's second Danske Bank Mageean Cup title and their first in 27 years.

They impressed in each of their games through the competition and have since collected a record-equalling six Allstars. They certainly have the potential to follow Cross and Passion, Ballycastle through to national success. Last April, the Ballycastle school recorded their first Ulster hurling title win since all competitons were realigned at All-Ireland level.

Last spring, St Killian’s, Garron Tower lost both the Gallagher (to Cross and Passion) and Foresters’ (St Mary’s CBGS) cup finals, but they eventually tasted success in October with a comfortable win over St Patrick’s, Maghera for a first MacNamee Cup success since 1989, when current coach Padraig McIlwaine was their captain.

Cross and Passion recently won the Leonard Cup final - at the expense of St Louis', Ballymena - and the presence of 10 players from north Antrim in the Allstar hurling team reinforces the idea that hurling has retreated to the north-east as football seems to be moving towards Oirialla.

Knock followed Ballymena to Kirk and then Casement Cup success, while Downpatrick and St Colman’s, Newry added to the host of provincial schools’ hurling medals going to Down schools at other age levels.

IN CAMOGIE, there was yet another Maghera v Magherafelt senior final - but there was a shock result, with St Patrick’s halting their neighbours' march to a third successive title with a 3-7 to 1-6 win a fortnight ago.

St Mary’s also lost their bid for a fifth successive junior title when they were well beaten by a Cross and Passion side who would have high hopes for a first national success for an Ulster team since they won it back in 2008.

Cross and Passion once more claimed U14 and year eight titles - their third successive underage double, complementing double All-Ireland Féile na nGael wins for the local Loughgiel club and suggesting south Derry’s recent monopoly on the senior competition is also about to change.

Elsewhere in camogie, there was a double at senior and U14 for St Killian’s, Garron Tower, an U16 double this term for St Paul’s, Kilrea and single titles for St Catherine’s, Armagh; St Louis', Kilkeel and a breakthrough in the Sciath Róisín Mhic Mhánúis for St Clare’s, Ballyjamesduff, with St Genevieve’s coming through at development level.