St Killian’s back on the title trail

By Michael McMullan

AFTER winning the Mageean Cup for the first time in 60 years last season, St Killian’s, Garron Tower have returned to the final with eyes on back-to-back titles.

They take on Antrim rivals Cross and Passion College, Ballycastle on Tuesday night in a repeat of last year’s showdown.

For joint-captain Callagh Mooney, it’s a third successive final having played in the 2022 defeat at the hands of St Louis, Ballymena.

“It’s actually crazy because whenever you think, everybody talks about the Glens of Antrim, but then you have the main school in the Glens of Antrim hasn’t won the Mageean Cup in 60 years,” he said, “so it was mad to be part of the team actually to do it.”

With eight starters returning this season, Mooney didn’t see any reason they the champions couldn’t make it back to the final. Now, it’s about retaining the title.

“Two in a row doesn’t happen a lot,” he said at the final launch in Dunloy, a day after their semi-final battle with St Louis, Ballymena.

“St Louis just wouldn’t go away,” he added. “Every time we got two scores up, they were back with the goal.

“It was a really good match and a good test to go into a final having come out of the game on top.”

They face a Cross and Passion team who easily accounted for St Patrick’s ,Maghera in the semi-final and were six-point winners over St Killian’s in the group stages.

Both teams were missing players and Mooney admits they brushed the defeat under the carpet. The big picture was getting to the final and a chance to play under the lights in the Dub.

“It’s a great occasion, but I suppose you just don’t let things get to your head until maybe after the match,” he said.

“You look back on it and you think there are so many people there, but it’s just another match. You just have to think about it. It’s no different than going out and playing a league match on a Sunday morning really, just go out and play.”

Mooney, joint-captain with Calum McIlwaine, hit three points in the semi-final and points to the craic in their squad.

“I’d better not say anything,” he said with a smile. In the opposition corner is a Ballycastle team they know inside out.

“With basically the whole team, we’re on a first name basis. I’d be friendly with a lot of them now to be fair, but you just have to leave that at the door when it comes to hurling.

“You never know what could happen, up in the Dub under the lights.”