Clean sweep for Tyrone schools

COMPLETING a clean sweep in Ulster Schools’ U-19 tournaments paints a very rosy picture as far as Tyrone underage football is concerned.

Omagh CBS, St Joseph’s Donaghmore and the Dean Maguirc have been in celebratory mode following their deserved triumphs over the course of the last week.

Memories to last a lifetime for all involved in their respective successes, but the entire county can bask in the knowledge that Tyrone underage football is flourishing.

Omagh CBS capped it all off with a scintillating display against another Tyrone school, Holy Trinity College, in Sunday’s MacRory Cup final showdown, and their polished young defender Sean Kerr was particularly complimentary of their management team of Diarmaid McNulty, Pat McNabb and Ciaran McBride.

“They’ve been magical, those lads work day-in day-out between organising and training and everything else. When you’ve got managers that good you have to do them proud,” he said.

They were under the cosh in the opening exchanges, but they’d shown throughout their campaign a steely resilience and that was once again to the fore as they claimed a 0-15 to 1-9 victory.

Kerr said: “There were a few finals where we didn’t take our chances but we spoke to a few past pupils of the school and their advice was the enjoy the moment but to do the job as it comes.”

“From knowing the calibre of the lads on the team, we knew we had what it takes to win big games. We have the quality but we also have that fight in us when we need to bring it out and do what’s needed to win.”

Another of the stars of Omagh CBS’ success, Callum Daly said he hoped that the younger year groups in the school will be spurred on by the school’s latest MacRory Cup triumph.

The Omagh St Enda’s half-back said: “We’re the first team in the school since 2007 to take the trophy so it means a lot, and hopefully it can inspire the younger generations in the school to do the same.

“This is been my aspiration the whole way up at school, and to do it at Healy Park with loads of people I know in attendance, was available. All my friends there watching us, it honestly means the world to me, it’s great.”