Michael McMullan: The perfect avenue – school offers important development

The annual unveiling of Ulster Schools’ fixtures reminds me why Tyrone have been the constant code to crack at minor and U20 level.

They have three schools in the MacRory Cup with four in the Rannafast Cup. That’s the top grade at Years 14 and 12 respectively.

The silverware might not always end up in the county but their players will still taste a high level of football.

Tyrone also have three schools in the MacLarnon Cup (Year 14 Grade B) and four in the Rafferty Cup (Year 12 Grade B).

Down have a decent sprinkling of schools in both the top two grades as well, but Abbey and St Colman’s will also have Armagh players in their ranks.

In Derry, we just have St Patrick’s Maghera and St Mary’s Magherafelt at Grade A, with St Pius X in Grade B. The latter two will have pupils from Tyrone and Antrim clubs.

It’s worrying that St Columb’s Derry are now operating at Grade D. That sounds alarm bells of where Gaelic Games development is headed in the city.

Antrim have no schools playing Grade A. Fermanagh have St Michael’s Enniskillen. St Patrick’s Cavan is the nursery in the Breffni County.

Monaghan now have a wider base with three schools in the MacRory Cup.

Donegal are the outlier. With their South West amalgamation not approved this year, they have just Abbey – backboned by Four Masters – in Grade A with St Eunan’s in Grade B.

Despite not a massive school presence, the county is motoring along very well.

Development

The late Gerard Gallaghan passed away recently and he was a driver of the Inishowen Schools initiative. It was geared towards developing Gaelic Games in the area.

While it’s no longer in operation, it has paid a dividend with more county players coming from an area with a significant soccer base.

All four semi-finalists in the Donegal Intermediate Championship are from the Peninsula.

Before that, with a vacuum in the school system (at least in comparison to other leading Ulster counties), Martin McHugh, John McConnell and Mick Murphy put their efforts into county development squads.

Paddy Hegarty was another catalyst. There were few county players that didn’t have his imprint on their career.

Donegal had a scattering of smaller schools across a sizeable county, so they cut their cloth accordingly.

It also proves that one size doesn’t fit all, but maximising Gaelic Games in schools is an excellent foundation. On the flip side, if a school has sporting opportunities, it makes them an attraction for some. It’s the best form of advertising they’ll have.

The number one focus in school life is to provide an education. Sport can never come before that but extracurricular activities are what help churn out a more rounded pupil.

Sport is a big part of that. It teaches disappointment, success and how to bridge between one to the other. It is also essential for general physical and mental health.

For me, from a GAA point of view, the school environment is priceless, absolutely priceless.

I’ve always said that development squads should be rolled out via schools, as the bridge between club underage and club senior, with county minor also part of that future.

I think U15s, U16s and even U17s are too young to really be deemed county players. These are only the baby step years.

We have all heard stories about the 16-year-old who returns to club training with notions above their station, turning their nose up at what the club offers. This is never healthy.

If county boards are serious about longer term development, channelling that development money into schools instead would be an excellent idea.

Even if it was a case of schools being grouped together to avail of any conditioning work, it would be money better spent. It would save on mileage.

More importantly, for me, it provides a wider base which, in turn, will be a help to clubs.

In the long term, that will offer payback to the county in the form of a late bolter or a more competitive club environment. That’s where the county teams can better more gains.

Keel won the Kerry Junior Championship last weekend. Three of their points came from the boot of Keith Evans who may be the Kingdom’s next breakthrough player.

I had to check Google maps to know where Keel was but I knew to look for Evans’ name.

Tyrone have players from senior, intermediate and junior clubs populating their county squads across the grades.

That’s where Derry have fallen down. They are not getting enough out of the main population base. It’s the same in some of the rural parts in the north of the county.

When Rory Gallagher was Derry manager, the county team was labelled ‘Greater Maghera’ by a few football fans in the county.

It is in reference to Glen and Sleacht Néill being the main teams at the time. The only thing that has changed now is the range of clubs – with Lavey, Magherafelt and Newbridge now back boning the squad.

That’s what struck me about the school fixtures this week. Tyrone will continue to have the advantage, helped by a passion for GAA in the county.

Will the Rannafast or MacRory Cup – or both – end up in a Tyrone school? We can’t tell but we know they will have a say in where they do go.

It is no coincide that Monaghan’s stock has risen since they’ve reached their arms around the schools in the county.

The county senior team is the flagship team and always should be. That’s when a player can look in the mirror and really feel he has made it. School is the bridge from club.