By Niall McCoy

WHEN it comes to commitment, Abbey CBS defender Cathal Burns can’t be accused of lacking it as the Newry school attempt to continue their dream season when they face Coláiste Mhuire of Westmeath in Saturday’s Hogan Cup semi-final at Abbotstown.

The tight-marking Cullyhanna man made headlines back in September as the club’s Armagh SFC quarter-final with St Peter’s went to extra-time. Not ideal, given Burns was due to head straight from the BOX-IT Athletic Grounds to his school’s formal at the Carrickdale.

The extra half hour or so meant that while his team-mates celebrated in the changing room, he left in his black-tie tuxedo. The appearance of a few Abbey supporters in tuxedos at the recent MacRory final has been laughed off as “a coincidence” by the talented young defender.

Commitment in one black, amber and red jersey – his club’s – has been matched by his performance in the same colours for his school as he produced a series of top displays en-route to their first MacRory title in 20 years.

Two years ago, he watched from the stands as those colours waved triumphantly at Croke Park as a Cullyhanna squad, including older brother Sean, were crowned All-Ireland intermediate champions. Now, he hopes to see those colours back again on St Patrick’s Day – only this time he’s determined to be at the heart of the action.

“There were the celebrations after winning the MacRory but we quickly got back to training, obviously focussing on Mullingar now,” he said.

“We’ve been working hard, a few tough sessions coming back and we’ve been easing off approaching the game to stay fresh.

“I missed out on it (Croke Park) with the club so the chance to get play there doesn’t come around too often and we’ll do everything we can to experience it; it could be once in a lifetime.”

Manager Dan Gordon felt his full-back line had “been left out to dry” in the dramatic drawn MacRory Cup final encounter with St Pat’s, Dungannon, but the replay was Abbey at their best with Burns producing another excellent corner-back display as they won by four points in a display that was more dominant than the scoreline suggests.

He’s built up quite the understanding with fellow full-back line inhabitants Conor Laverty and Finn Madine, as well as goalkeeper James McBennett.

“We’d have a tight bond between the four us.

“Finn is only in this year, but he’s been straight in, he’s been perfect. Conor and James, we’ve played together now for seven years and we’d definitely have that bit of confidence in each other.”

Ulster sides have a quite fantastic recent record in Hogan Cup semi-finals. Of the last 10 played – stretching back to 2014 given the 2020 and ’21 cancellations due to Covid-19 – they have won seven.

Their Westmeath opponents are no easy mark, far from it. The school has only ever won three Brother Bosco Cup titles – many of the current squad have been responsible for two of those as they went back-to-back in Leinster.

Physically imposing, midfield duo Críostóir Ormsby and Rory O’Brien provide both an aerial and scoring threat, the marauding Mikey Weir is a danger from half-back and in Michael Moloney they have a real mentality monster at six.

Unlike their entire schools journey to this point, played exclusively against Ulster opposition, the Abbey won’t be able to call on any past familiarity – not necessarily a bad thing according to Burns.

“We’ve never played them before obviously, so you have to focus on yourself more. We are more than happy to do that.

“We do have videos of them, we will try and prepare, see what their strengths and flaws are and what we can get at.”

The last time Abbey were in this position in ’06, current coach Kevin McKernan marched the team out in Carlow for what turned out to be a real battle with De La Salle of Macroom. The match went the distance with the CBS’ character helping them scrape through. That cherished quality will be needed again this weekend if Burns and his teammates are to live out their Croke Park dream.