Sean Marty: Hard work has been key for Maghera


By Niall Gartland FORM an image of Sean Marty Lockhart in your mind’s eye and there’s a fair old chance he’ll be wearing a Derry jersey. One of the best defenders of his or any generation, Sean Marty served Derry with distinction for 15 full years at senior inter-county level, but he also has a […]


McKaigue hoping to fulfil MacRory dream


By Niall Gartland ST PATRICK’S, Maghera skipper Cahal McKaigue comes from good stock and his famous cousin Chrissy is part of the management team who have engineered their run to Sunday’s MacRory Cup final against Abbey VS. He’s very much the Sleacht Néill prototype – a talented footballer and hurler and already he has graduated to […]


McFadden hails Abbey VS’ unity of purpose


By Niall Gartland 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 […]


MacRory Cup: Cavan’s golden generation


By Shaun Casey EVERY now and then, a team comes through that catches the eye and arouses attention. Quite often, as most stories go, it can all end in tears but that certainly wasn’t the case with St Patrick’s College, Cavan and their golden generation. Once this team began to step up through the ranks, […]


MacRory Cup quarter-final update


By Michael McMullan THERE will be an all-Derry quarter-final in January after St Patrick’s Maghera saw off Our Lady’s Castleblayney on Friday at Owenbeg. An early Finbarr McShane goal put Maghera into a lead they never lost in a 1-10 to 0-4 win. It’s sets up last eight clash with St Mary’s Magherafelt. Advertisement There […]


Omagh CBS goalkeeper savours another special MacRory victory


By Niall Gartland OISIN Watson donned the number one jersey of Omagh CBS this year and can take great satisfaction in his own personal contribution to their historic back-to-back MacRory Cup triumph. The Fintona lad was sub goalie on last year’s team and stepped into the breach with Conor McAneney moving onto pastures new. McAneney […]


Gourley has kept the faith at St Patrick’s


By Niall Gartland CIARAN Gourley’s commitment to the St Patrick’s Academy is unquestionable but it’s evident in the tone and content of his words that he hasn’t made it a personal crusade to bring the MacRory Cup back to the college. The former Tyrone defender, always measured in word and deed, helped manage St Pat’s […]


St Pat’s never give up says vice-captain Hughes


By Niall Gartland WHAT a difference a year makes for St Patrick’s Academy vice-captain Sean Hughes, whose free-taking exploits have been pivotal to their run to a first MacRory Cup final appearance in nine years. Last January St Pat’s were left licking their wounds after a bitterly disappointing semi-final defeat to Holy Trinity, Cookstown, and Hughes […]


MacRory Cup kingpins


Shaun Casey charts the roll of honour list ahead of Sunday’s MacRory Cup final St Colman’s College, Newry (20 titles) NO school has won the MacRory Cup more times than St Colman’s College and they’ve also played in the final more than any other school. The Newry based college has lifted the MacRory Cup 20 […]


Mixed memories for players from 2009 MacRory showdown


By Niall Gartland SUNDAY’S showdown isn’t the first time Omagh CBS and St Patrick’s Academy Dungannon have met in the MacRory Cup final, and Sean Warnock and Dermot Thornton have contrasting memories of their previous meeting back in 2009. It’s hard to believe it’s fifteen full years ago – where on earth does the time ago? […]