By Niall Gartland

DONEGAL teams are making their mark on the Ulster Schools front, and St Eunan’s College, Letterkenny manager Peter Devine acknowledges that Abbey VS are a source of inspiration in that respect.

Last Thursday, Carndonagh came very close to getting their hands on the Markey Cup, while Abbey VS have enjoyed a meteoric rise, capturing the 2024 MacLarnon Cup title and losing by a point to St Patrick’s, Maghera in the 2025 MacRory showdown.

Now St Eunan’s are bidding to win the MacLarnon Cup in tonight’s (Thursday) final showdown against Aquinas of Belfast, and their manager Devine said: “Carndonagh were in the MacRory final, Abbey VS and what they’re doing is phenomenal. I’ve said to numerous people that it’s incredible. They’re mostly working off one club, whereas some MacRory teams are working off 11 clubs.

“Even in our own school we’re looking at them and thinking we want to get up there if we can. At the moment, there are good teams in Donegal going far in the Ulster Schools competitions, which is great to see.”

St Eunan’s have a proud record in the competition, having won the title on five separate occasions. Devine says they knew they had a good chance at making their mark in this year’s competition.

“The first meeting we had was in the first week back at school. We spoke to the group and looked around at everyone and said, ‘We’ve a good team here.’ We know how difficult this competition is to win. The last final we were in was 2018, and the last time we won it was 2014. We felt there was a good enough team to go far in the competition, and thankfully so far we are.”

The St Eunan’s boys booked their spot in the final with a semi-final victory over Holy Trinity, while Aquinas overcame another Tyrone school, Dean Maguirc. St Eunan’s accounted for Aquinas in the group stages but the final could be a different story if they don’t put their best foot forward at the Dub.

“At the outset, people would have said Dean Maguirc were probably the team to beat after getting to the final last year.

“We know the challenge that’s going to face us in the final with Aquinas.

“I believe it’s their first final too, so they’re going to be absolutely gunning for it. I’ve no doubt we’re going to have to bring our A game if we want to lift the trophy, and we’re really looking forward to it.”

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