The Danske Bank Mageean Cup is an annual Ulster Schools’ senior hurling competition that traditionally takes place during September and October and culminates in a final just prior to the Halloween Break.
Schools interested in hurling were playing against each other prior to the formal establishment of a competition in 1963 which involved four schools – St Malachy’s Belfast, St MacNissi’s Garron Tower, St Michael’s Omeath and St Mary’s CBGS. A Cup in memory of Bishop Mageean (Bishop of Down and Connor 1929-62) was presented in 1963 with St MacNissi’s the winners of the first two championships.
After that St Mary’s CBGS dominated the competition and won two All-Ireland titles in 1971 and 1973 before the late 70s and 80s brought a wave of change with initial victories for Cross and Passion Ballycastle (1977-78), St Patrick’s Armagh (1982), St Patrick’s Maghera (1983) and St Louis Ballymena (1988).
After that, for a decade and a half, the Mageean Cup rested in either Maghera or St Mary’s, before the re-emergence of Cross and Passion just over a decade ago ushered in another very competitive era that saw the champions take six All-Ireland titles (2 Maghera, 3 Ballycastle and 1 St Mary’s) and regular national final appearances.
During the past three years, no fewer than five teams have reached the final, indicating how competitive the Mageean Cup has become and how highly a winner’s medal is now valued.
Danske Bank Mageean Cup knock-out stages
Quarter-final: St Patrick’s Maghera v St Mary’s CBGS Belfast Tuesday 16th October
Danske Bank Mageean Cup profiles
CROSS AND PASSION BALLYCASTLE
Titles: 9 and they converted three of those into All-Irelands. Last title: 2014-15
Managers / selectors: Joe Cassidy (Bellaghy) and Sean Cassidy (Slaughtneil)
Captain – Oisin McAuley
Group results:
Cross and Passion 6-25 St Patrick’s Maghera 1-4
Cross and Passion 5-17 St Killian’s 1-13
Top of Group A
OVER the past decade Cross and Passion have established themselves as strong perennial contenders for the Mageean Cup with five wins and they then added All-Ireland titles to those wins.
Six players (Michael McGarry, Oisin McAuley, Colm Butler, Ryan Hill, Conor McBride and Seamus McAuley) played in last year’s semi-final defeat by An Dún. These along with Cormac Donnelly, Ryan McFarland and Paul Boyle have stepped up with the drive this year in two high-scoring group wins.
The group have collected all the Cups through their school careers – Danske Bank Thompson, MacNamee, Gallagher, Leonard and then at Easter 2017 the Foresters’ Cup after a derby final in Cloughmills with St Louis Ballymena.
The Dunloy v Loughgiel Antrim minor hurling final involves 11 of panel and school training has been curtailed to cater for these clubs and others at earlier stages of the championship.
Joe Cassidy agrees that Cross and Passion are one of the favourites: “Any team from St Mary’s, St Killian’s, St Louis & ourselves could win the competition. I think it is very open as it has been for a couple of years now.”
Cross and Passion Panel: Kevin McAuley, Cormac Donnelly, Oisin McAuley, Colm Butler
Paul Boyle, Ciaran McKay, Enda óg McGarry, John McAllister, Ryan Hill, Ryan McFarland, Paudie McGilligan, Michael McGarry, Ryan Dallas, Ronan Laverty, Mark McClean, Conor Watterson, Conor McBride, Michael O’Boyle, Seamus McAuley, Rian McMullan, Dylan Devlin, Lorcan Donnelly, Odhran McGrath, Joe McToal, Fergal McKiernan, Tiernan Smyth, Sean Brogan, Rian Dobbin, Callum Coyles
ST KILLIAN’S, GARRON TOWER
No titles, although previous school St MacNissi’s Garron Tower won 2
Managers / selectors: Michael McAllister (Oisin’s), James Campbell (Loughgiel Shamrocks)
Captain: Caolan O’Connor (Oisin’s)
Group games:
Cross and Passion 5-17 St Killian’s 1-13
St Killian’s 2-15 St Patrick’s Maghera 0-13
Quarter-final: St Killian’s Garron Tower v An Dún - TBC
Second in Group A
ST KILLIAN'S lost the 2016 final to St Mary’s CBGS Belfast. Only captain Caolan O’Connor played in that final although several others were in the panel. O’Connor and a couple of others have featured through the age-groups with Antrim county teams.
This group of players have had little success through their school careers. But their panel is fairly young and look strong at lower age-groups.
They were very well beaten by Cross and Passion in the opening game but recovered well to defeat Maghera in their other group game.
Coach Michael McAllister says: “Cross and Passion are very strong, so too are St Louis. I think the Cup will come back to north Antrim and I would hope that we have some sort of say in it.”
St Killian’s: Colm McKeegan, Donal Kearney, Ruairi McCollam, Pearce McKeegan, Mark Emerson, Senan Black, Ronan McAteer, Aidan Ritson, Fiontan McQuillan, Finlay Walker, Thomas Scally, Alexander McMullan, Caolan O’Connor, Ciaran Black, Euan McHenry, Oliver Kearney, Sean McKay, Eoin Hynds, Cathal Hynds, Ciaran Magill, Kieran O’Boyle, Liam McLoughlin, Aidan Scullion, Gerard Scullion, Eoin Walsh
ST PATRICK’S, MAGHERA (Danske Bank Mageean Cup holders)
Titles: 13 and they won 2 All-Irelands. Last title: 2017
Managers/ selectors: Paul Hughes (Derrytresk), Rónán O’Donnell (Lavey) and Kevin Hinphey (Kevin Lynch’s)
Joint Captains – Tiarnan McHugh/Michael McCormack
Group games:
St Patrick’s Maghera 1-4 Cross and Passion Ballycastle 6-25
St Patrick’s Maghera 0-12 St Killian’s Garron Tower 2-15
Third in Group A
Quarter-final: St Patrick’s Maghera v St Mary’s CBGS Belfast Tuesday 16th October
THE holders came into this year’s competition with just two players from the winning team last season – Tiarnan McHugh and Fintan Bradley – although a further five were panel members – Michael McCormack, Dara Simpson, John Mellon, Sean T McErlane and PJ McAleese
These have been the key players in the two group games which have finished in defeat for the holders. These results have not be entirely unexpected as the year group has not reached any finals on their path through he school
There tends to be a lot of club activity in both hurling and football in Derry during the Mageean Cup months of September and October from under 16 through under 18 and into under 21s and Maghera tend to have problems juggling all these balls.
Paul Hughes on the team he expects to win outright: “Ballycastle have been the dominant team in this year group and based on the score-line from our league game they will be very hot favourites especially as they have strengthened their group with some players who have transferred to the school for Sixth Form Studies.”
St Patrick’s Maghera Panel: Tiarnan McHugh, Michael McCormick, Fintan Bradley, John Mellon, Daniel McCartney, Barry Walsh, Dara Simpson, Sean T McErlane, Oran Downey, Neil O’Kane, Cathal O’Kane, Cathan O’Neill, Owen Grant, Peter McCormick, PJ McAleese, JP McGuigan, Daithí McGuigan, Seamus McKenna, Cahir Higgins, Ryan McPeake, Eoghan Quinn, Ryan McGill, Daniel Glass, Fergal McGahan, Shea Cassidy, Cahan McElhinney, Matthew Downey, Mark McEldowney, Sean McMullan, Jamie Duggan.
ST LOUIS GRAMMAR SCHOOL
Two titles, last one in 2015
Managers /selectors: Colm Morgan (Naomh Colmcille), Conor Gillan (Loughgiel Shamrocks)
Captain: Seaan Elliott (Dunloy)
Group games:
St Louis 4-18 St Mary’s CBGS 3-9
St Louis 5-21 St Patrick’s Keady 2-10
St Louis beat An Dún
Top of Group B
ST LOUIS collected their second title three years ago, 27 years after their first, by confortably defeating St Mary’s CBGS in the final. Current captain Seaan Elliot was a lively corner-forward in that game, but didn’t play in last year’s campaign due to injury.
St Louis lost in the semi-final to eventual winners St Patrick’s Maghera and a number of players are back in search of a medal including Declan McCloskey, Callum Scullion, Eoghan Daly, Eoghan McGrath and Cormac McFadden.
In the equivalent Danske Bank Foresters’ Cup St Louis came close to unsettling Cross and Passion in the final and they were also beaten in the Leonard Cup final
Preparations have had to work around the minor championships with Dunloy qualifying for the finals of both and Loughgiel reaching the hurling decider.
Colm Morgan on likely winners: “Any of the teams left in the semi-finals could win it. However CPC are going for the full complement of titles from Year 8 through and they will be hard to beat.
St Louis Panel: Seann Elliott, Declan McCloskey, Paul Doherty, Eoin McCusker, James McDonnell, Callum Scullion, Rian McCann, Daire McMullan, Rory McCloskey, Eoghan Daly, Colla McDonnell, Rory Mullan, Eoghan McGrath, Christy Dickson, Ciaran McQuillan, Shane O’Boyle, Oisin McErlane, Patrick Kinsella, Daire McIlhatton, Oliver McAtamney, Luke Mulholland, Cormac Magill, DJ Crawley, Kevin Brady, Peter Cullen, Oisin Connolly, Cormac McFadden, Kieran O’Boyle
ST MARYS CBGS, BELFAST
Titles: 29 and they have taken two All-Ireland titles. Last Mageean title: 2016
Managers / selectors: Conor Hynds (Kilclief), Chris Clarke (St John’s) & Marc Fisher (Ballygalget)
Captain: Gary McIllhatton (St Galls)
Group games:
St Mary’s 3-9 St Louis Ballymena 4-18
St Mary’s 3-18 An Dún 1-16
St Mary’s 4-26 St Patrick’s Keady 2-16
Second in Group B
Quarter-final: St Patrick’s Maghera v St Mary’s CBGS Belfast Tuesday 16th October
ST MARY'S reached the 2015 final, but needed a second bite of the cherry to win their 29th title and first in five seasons. Last year they failed to reach the semi-finals and have just five players from that team back in action; Aaron Bradley, Gary McIllhatton, Eoghan McMenamin, Caolaon Crossan and Cormac McGettigan.
Although they lost to St Louis Ballymena in their opening fixture, they have bounced back with two high-scoring wins over Keady and An Dún during which Conor Flannery, Sean Maguire, Owen May, Caolan Ó Duifin, Daire Murphy and Dan Murray have been prominent.
St Mary’s current Lower 6th group and Year 12s have contested several finals through the school and have a big presence in the squad. However the Antrim under 16 championships have impacted negatively on the training schedule
Coach Conor Hynds: “It is looking like CPC and St Louis Ballymena could be there at the end, but I wouldn’t rule out An Dún, providing they get out all available players. But, as always, you cannot rule out anyone still left at semi-final stage, such is the quality around at the minute.”
St Mary’s CBGS Panel: Aaron Bradley, Caolan Slack, Dannan McKeogh, Caolan Ó Duifin, Ronan Crossan, Caolan Crossan, Daire Murphy, Eoin Trainor, Andrew McLean, Odhran McGrath, Ruairi Murray, Ruairi Hamill, Caoilfhionn O’Neill, Jay Burns, Adam Aiken, Michael Murray, Aaron Carey, Ethan Monaghan, Conor Flannery, Liam McCluskey, Gary McIlhatton, Owen May, Daniel Churchill, Caolan McKernan, Daniel Murray, Eoghan McMenamin, Cormac McGettigan
AN DÚN COMBINED SCHOOLS (last season’s beaten finalists)
Managers /selectors: Danny Toner (Ballygalget), Ronan Sheehan (Newry Shamrocks), Conor O'Toole (Loughinisland) and CJ McGourty (St Gall's)
Captain – Ciaran Watson (Ballygalget)
Group games:
St Mary's CBGS 2-17 An Dún 1-16
An Dún lost to St Louis
An Dún 4-25 St Patrick’s Keady 5-12
Third place finish in Group
Quarter-final: St Killian’s Garron Tower v An Dún - TBC
BY definition An Dún are more or less a county panel of players drawn from different schools in the county, something which consistently throws up logistical problems around travel and the fact that all most all the boys play either hurling or football or both for their own individual school.
An Dún have been in the Mageean Cup since 2011 and have reached three finals but have yet to win the title. They were in last year’s decider and have half the players involved in that game back-boning another challenge for honours, Ciaran Watson, Caolan Coulter, Tim Prenter, Stuart Martin, Ronan Blair, Phelim Savage, Niall McFarland and John Hughes.
Ciaran Watson, Cathal Lavery, Aodhan Furlong. Sean Campbell
Team co-ordinator Danny Toner:
“On the evidence of our group game St Louis Ballymena look very strange and they were in the Foresters’ Cup final two years ago. I can’t comment on other teams.”
An Dún Panel: Cathal Lavery, Imran Hussain, Cian Lyons, Aodhan Furlong, Sean Campbell, Ciaran Watson, Lukas Boyd, Phelim Savage, John Hughes, Niall McFarland, Caolan Coulter, Jon Fisher, Francis Caldwell, Padraig Doran, Eoin Magee, Ronan Blair, Tim Prenter, Ronan Smyth, Ciaran Savage, Matt McAreavey, Aaron Dorrian, Luke O’Neill, Sean Watters, Tiernan Murphy, Paul McCusker, Adam Markey, Thomas Magee
ST PATRICK’S, KEADY
Titles: 0 – first year up in Mageean after two Casement wins
Managers /selectors: Damien Feeney and Damian McConville
Captain – Fionntan Donnelly (Keady Lámh Dhearg)
Group games:
St Louis 5-21 St Patrick’s Keady 2-10
St Mary’s 4-26 St Patrick’s Keady 2-16
An Dún 4-25 St Patrick’s Keady 5-12
Eliminated after finishing bottom of Group B
AFTER back-to-back wins in the Danske Bank Casement Cup and success for this particular group in the Danske Bank Kirk Cup two years ago, the management have decided to move up a grade and tackle the Mageean after a beak of a decade or more.
There are just four clubs supplying players into the school: Na Fianna Middletown, Keady Lámh Dhearg, Naomh Mochua Derrynoose and Cuchullian Armagh city.
There are a few key players from the past two successful Casement Cup campaigns: Fionntan Donnelly, Sean óg McGuinness, Connor Renaghan, Darragh Harnett.
But like other dual schools Keady suffer from the club commitments in football and hurling as Armagh under-age championship come to a head.
Damien Feeney: “We don’t know too much about the other group although I suspect that it is quite strong. We have played St Louis Ballymena though and they look pretty capable.”
St Patrick’s Keady: Cillian Fearon, Odhran Doyle, Daire Murphy, Oisin Burke, Mark Lennon, Padraig Mallon, Darragh Harnett, Connor Renaghan, Nathan Hunt, Sean McGuigan, Oisin Murphy, Shea McNaughton, Sean óg McGuinness, Eoghan McArdle, Fionntan Donnelly, Michael Rafferty, Shay Monaghan, Shea Harvey, John Hughes, Ciaran Donnelly, Ryan McCaughey, Patrick Rafferty, Conor Gray, Gareth McKee, Oklin McGrane, Connor Rafferty.
