McFadden hails Abbey VS’ unity of purpose

DONEGAL are guaranteed to have a MacRory Cup finalist for the first time since 1961, and naturally enough Stuart McFadden hopes it will be the boys from Abbey VS who take their place in the final of the blue ribbon Ulster School’s competition.

Abbey VS, who won the Ulster and All-Ireland ‘B’ titles last year backboned by members of the Four Masters club, find themselves in uncharted waters in their first ever MacRory Cup semi-final appearance this Saturday.

Standing in their way of a place in the final are another Donegal side – though not technically a Donegal ‘school’.

Southwest Donegal are drawn from five different schools spanning a wide geographic area and while there’s been some controversy surrounding the amalgamation, it’s certainly proven successful and they knocked out holders Omagh CBS in last Sunday evening’s quarter-final.

Abbey VS, meanwhile, knocked out St Colman’s Newry, one of the big traditional MacRory Cup schools, and McFadden hopes that their sense of innate togetherness will pull them through their semi-final joust this weekend.

McFadden said: “There’s two ways of looking at Southwest. For the sake of Donegal football, it’s probably a good initiative that has come together. Gaoth Dobhair were playing in the Markey, Colaiste Na Carraige were playing ‘D’ level football, so I appreciate that they’re getting a good shot at it.

“But at the same time, if you ask me where Gaoth Dobhair is in relation to the county – it’s definitely not south west. But look, that’s for another day and to be fair to them, logistically it’s probably been no harm.

“We would look at it that we’re playing as a school as its own entity and we hope that helps us a little bit extra, where the boys have played together for years with their school and clubs and aren’t just coming together once a week.”

Abbey VS can call upon six of the starters from last year’s team and a batch of subs, and whatever happens from this point on, they’ve shown that they’re more than capable of holding their own at this level. Four Masters have produced a golden generation and they backbone the school teams, but McFadden is hopeful that it won’t be a one-off.

“The clubs, particularly Four Masters, have done amazing work, it’s been fantastic. To be able to make a semi-final in our first year of MacRory is brilliant and one of the messages I’ll be given the lads this week is to put our best foot forward because we’re in touching distance of the final.

“I’d be hopeful that the clubs will see how good playing in the MacRory is for all the boys coming through, for Naomh Bríd and St Naul’s as well.

“They’re getting high-level football and it might be a wee golden generation but in the next five years I’d be hoping we’d at least be fielding in MacRory, even if we’re not as strong, and that’s a good incentive for younger boys in the school.”