By Niall Gartland

ST PATRICK’S, Maghera manager Paul Boyle is Loughgiel through and through, but he believes their presence in Friday’s Mageean Cup final is good for the overall complexion of Ulster hurling.

It’s their first time competing in the final in four years and Boyle, who happens to be a former pupil of their opponents Cross and Passion, says youngsters at St Patrick’s can take heart from their exploits on the hurling pitch.

They’re reigning MacRory Cup champions, and there’s plenty of dual players in their ranks, so their impressive run to the brink of the premier Ulster Schools hurling title is yet another indication of the strength of GAA in the school.

Boyle, a senior hurler with both Loughgiel and Antrim said “It’s great to be in the final.

“The Antrim hurlers have had a stranglehold on the competition in recent years, and it’s important for Derry teams to come along and reach the Mageean final.

“It shows the younger boys in the school that they can do great things in hurling.”

It’s been a busy time between one thing and another for the players, the majority of whom are featuring in St Patrick’s ongoing defence of their MacRory Cup title. Momentum is a powerful thing though, says Boyle.

“I think we’re working with 26 players who are part of our MacRory panel. Only two of our starters don’t have football commitments. There’s also eight or nine Dungiven lads who are playing in the Ulster Minor tournaments both at St Paul’s and Ballinascreen, they won the football and hurling titles in Derry.

“There just seems to be a momentum with the lads. They go into MacRory and then they’re straight back out in the Mageean. There’s a big buzz generally.

“I find it’s particularly obvious with the younger ones in the school – they see that there’s a pathway that Maghera teams can compete in the hurling as well as football.”

Naturally enough, Boyle will have to park his club allegiance when the sliotar is thrown in at the Dub this Friday. He’s already played with a number of Cross and Passion hurlers at senior adult level with Loughgiel.

“I’d know a lot of them. There’s lads like Ronan Fitzgerald and Liam Glackin who won the Paddy Buggy with Cross and Passion last year, they’re in playing senior hurling with Loughgiel.

“It’s a nice feeling that they’re doing so well, but it’s still strange competing against your own clubmen. There’s a lot of ties between the two schools though, so that’s the way things go.”

St Patrick’s have already beaten Cross and Passion once in the competition, in the group stages, and they finished strongly to overcome St Killian’s, Garron Tower to book their spot in the final.

A big turnover in personnel suggests Cross and Passion might not be quite as strong as last year, but reaching their third final on the trot is a serious achievement.

“I went to Cross and Passion myself and know the tradition in the school. The work that Joe Cassidy has put in over the years is unreal, and he has good men in helping. They’re a real breeding ground for Antrim hurling, and it’s pleasing to see a lot of Loughgiel players making their mark. Ten years from now, Cross and Passion will still be knocking about at this level, they have that tradition.”