Drummond Cup Semi Final: St. Joseph's Donaghmore v Ardee Community School (Saturday, 1pm in Inniskeen)
Two schools who recently broke new ground in their respective Provinces will bid for a place in the Paddy Drummond Cup final when St Joseph’s Donaghmore take on Ardee Community School in Inniskeen on Saturday afternoon.
The Tyrone lads will go into the game as favourites fresh from a first ever MacLarnon Cup title. They eased their way to that final but it was only in the second half against Rathmore Grammar that they managed to show what they are capable of.
The Belfast lads grabbed an early goal and the sides were level at the end of a low-scoring opening half but in the second period there was only one side in it as St.Josephs ran out convincing winners.
Their side contain a number of players who have won Ulster minor medals with Tyrone and look strong throughout the field. Ben Hughes, James Rafferty, Joey Clarke and Conor O’Neill are all good defenders while Shane Scullion and John McKenna form a mobile midfield partnership.
Up front they possess a number of potential match winners with Noah Grimes, Cormac Drayne, Darragh Donaghy and team Captain Ronan Molloy all to the fore.
Winning captain of @SJS41, Ronan Molloy, lifts the @DanskeBank_UK MacLarnon Cup! pic.twitter.com/k13qDIA55e
— Ulster Schools GAA (@ulsterschools) February 10, 2023
Their Louth opponents are also first time Leinster winners and they haven’t had much time to rest on their laurels with that final only taking place on Monday past. They emerged emphatic 2-16 to 1-8 winners over FCJ Bunclody but a much sterner examination of their qualities lies in wait here.
Cillian Taaffe and Alan Reynolds man the two central defensive positions while wing back Tadgh McDonnell likes to get forward weighing in with 1-1 in the Leinster Final.
Lorcan Buckley and Sean Callaghan are their midfield pairing while Andrew Wogan at full forward will take a bit of watching after scoring 0-9 in the Leinster Final, centre half forward Adam Gillespie weighing in with 0-4 in the same game.
Donaghmore have looked impressive all campaign to date and if they play the football that they are capable of, they can continue on their historic journey.
Eamonn O’Sullivan Cup semi-final: Dean Maguirc Carrickmore v O’Carolan College Nobber (Sunday, Castleblayney, 1pm)
A place in the final of the Dr Eamonn O’Sullivan Cup Final is the prize at stake at Castleblaney on Sunday morning when Markey Cup champions Dean Maguirc Carrickmore take on O’Carolan College Nobber.
The Tyrone lads recently won the Markey Cup for the first time and no doubt they will be eager to maintain that run of form against their Meath opponents. The Dean are managed by Gavan McElroy, Enda Kilpatrick and Gerard Mullin and the former admits that they are looking forward to the challenge.
“Our target at the start of the season was to try and win the Markey Cup for the first time and now that has been achieved we want to try and go a step further,” admitted Gavan.
“Its a matter of resetting that target as we are in the last four in the Country and our aim now is to make the last two. It was a real battle to win the Ulster title and it has been great for the entire school and now the pressure is off.
This may be the only chance that some of them will get an opportunity to play in an All Ireland Final and we are determined to grasp it. They were back training the following week after the Markey success and are raring to go.”
The Dean will be without inspirational Captain Michael Rafferty as well as midfielder James Rafferty after both sustained injuries in the Markey Final and while that’s a major blow it’s an opportunity for others to step up.
“They are two key players for us and its unfortunate that they will be missing but it’s a chance for others to come in and do a job, that’s what a squad is for,” said Gavan.
“I saw Nobber in their Leinster Final and they are a well balanced side with a dangerous inside line so we will have to be on our guard.”
Dean Maguirc will look for big displays from the likes of Piece Byrne, Finbar Donnelly and Tomas Duff in defence, Ronan Fox at midfield and Davagh Loughran, Sean Og Teague, Aidan Woods and Kevin Cuddy up front.
Nobber’s attack is spearheaded by Rian Stafford, son of Meath legend Brian, with Darragh Kelly, Rian McConnell, Ben Reilly and Adam Matthews other key players for them. Despite the absence of Rafferty and McCallan the Tyrone lads should still have enough to book their place in the decider.
