Football

Dean Maguirc College pupil Michael Rafferty a top class man-marker in Tyrone minor side

Michael Rafferty of Tyrone during this year's Ulster Minor Football Championship semi-final against Derry at the Athletic Grounds. Picture Margaret McLaughlin.
Michael Rafferty of Tyrone during this year's Ulster Minor Football Championship semi-final against Derry at the Athletic Grounds. Picture Margaret McLaughlin. Michael Rafferty of Tyrone during this year's Ulster Minor Football Championship semi-final against Derry at the Athletic Grounds. Picture Margaret McLaughlin.

NEXT week Michael Rafferty will be back in uniform at Dean Maguirc College and what a story he’ll have to tell when he meets his mates in the corridors of the Carrickmore school.

Most of them will already know all about it of course. Rafferty is in fifth year at ‘The Dean’ and he’ll hope to start upper sixth as an All-Ireland champion by helping the Tyrone minors overcome Meath in Saturday’s final at Croke Park.

The Killyclogher youngster was one of the unsung heroes of the Tyrone side that dismantled Cork in last Saturday’s semi-final in Tullamore.

The slick skills of the Red Hand forwards grabbed a lot of the attention but holding a Cork side that had amassed seven goals and 60 points in three games on their way to winning the Munster title laid the foundations for the win. Man-marking corner-back Rafferty was central to that effort.

He was the player tasked with keeping Rebel dangerman Hugh O’Connor (1-20 in Munster) quiet and he carried out a difficult assignment to the letter.

The way he went about his business in Tullamore was reminiscent of the uncompromising style of Conor Gormley who is a member of the management team. Last Saturday, Rafferty tackled as if his life depended on it, he was given the job of shutting down O’Connor and carried his instructions out to the letter with single-minded determination.

“We watched him in the last game (the Munster final against Limerick) and did our video work,” he explained.

“So we knew he had to be stopped because he was their go-to man and thankfully he didn’t get as much time on the ball today. When I’m given a job I just try my best to do it and that’s what Gerry (Donnelly) and Gary (Hetherington) and all the managers expect of me. I just try my best.

“We haven’t go long to go now before the final so we’ll work hard this week and hopefully it’ll go our way on the day.”

At school he says teachers Terry McCann, a clubmate at Killyclogher, Enda Kilpatrick and Carrickmore native Gavin McAvoy have helped him “along the way” and, like the rest of the county, all three will be cheering him on Saturday when Tyrone take on the young Royals in the curtainraiser to the senior semi-final between the Red Hands and Peter Keane’s Kerry.

Rafferty and his team-mates go into their decider on the crest of a wave after their superb performance against a fancied Cork side last weekend. Meath weren’t quite as impressive in their semi-final win against Sligo but, after beating Dublin to record back-to-back title wins in Leinster, the Royals will provide formidable opposition.

“It was a great win, the boys put everything they had into it and it obviously showed on the scoreline,” said Rafferty.

“We’re thankful we’re in an All-Ireland final now and that’s where we want to be. All-Irelands finals are what you dream off when you’re a kid and they don’t come around that often. You won’t get too many chances at it so we’ll have to go out against Meath with all guns blazing.

“I’m sure Meath will be pretty strong but hopefully we’ll get the better of them.”