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, everyone could tell they were special. Success and trophies followed of course, as did heartache and setbacks. It wasn’t all plain sailing for the Breffni crew.

By the time Shane Fitzpatrick got his hands on them, they were ready for a charge at the MacRory Cup. The school had won the competition 11 times previously, but this team was aiming to end a 43-year wait for the crown.

St Patrick’s hadn’t even competed in the final since 1975, so getting that far was a historic step for the school. But this team were winners. They had grown a thirst for success right throughout their time at the college as they prepared to face Dungannon.

“That team would have contested all the Ulster Colleges finals at all the different age groups, from D’Alton right through to MacRory Cup,” recalls Fitzpatrick. “We’re probably one of the only teams that have ever done that, I’m not too sure.

“But the only one that particular group didn’t win was the Corn ná nÓg. They got to the final but that was the only one they missed out on. In terms of a group of players, they were a fantastic group, and they had a fantastic attitude right from the word go.

“Even at D’Alton Cup level, I didn’t work with them at that stage, but they just seemed to have a huge interest in schools football and a huge appetite for it. That only grew as the years went on and they realised they were able to compete with the best.”

Given that level of success and excitement, there was a lot of pressure on Fitzpatrick’s side to stand up and deliver. Like all successful teams, there was no secret ingredient. Hard work and good attitudes were the main components.

“When you look back, it was a huge team effort. There was a certain amount of pressure on that team to deliver,” he added. “It was probably the first team that had come through the college in a long number of years that really looked like they had what it was going to take.

“That brings its own pressure but the way they set their stalls out, even from D’Alton Cup level, they continued in that vein the whole way through. Their appetite for work was just second to none.

“They remained hugely grounded and anything that was asked of them in terms of training, they were willing to do it. They were willing to go the extra mile and that’s really my standout memory from that year.

He elaborated: “The training sessions were extremely intense, and the boys just worked incredibly hard to put themselves in a position to go and compete. It was something special to be part of.

“It had such historical significance for the school as well, it hadn’t been won in 43 years, so it was a big thing to be the team that finally did that. They prepared like a team that were hungry for it and hadn’t experienced that type of success in all those years.”

From the outset of the 2015 season, the ultimate goal was to win the MacRory Cup. This team was on a mission throughout their years at the college and now the time to deliver on the biggest stage had arrived.

While Fitzpatrick, who managed the team alongside Fr Kevin Faye, Finbar O’Reilly (who won a Junior Club All-Ireland with Arva in January 2024) and goalkeeper coach Simon Fay, he paid tribute to the people that had helped mould the side up to that point.

“Finbar O’Reilly and Father Kevin, they were two very special men,” Fitzpatrick continued. “They are immersed in football and they would have worked with that team during the Brock Cup campaign, to Rannafast and maybe two years at MacRory Cup.

“Prior to that, John O’Shea and Andy McGovern were in charge for D’Alton level and Corn ná nÓg as well. Finbar, Father Kevin and Gerard Gunn then worked with that team the rest of the way to MacRory.

“All those figures, they had a massive part to play in the success of that team and they all put in a huge shift to prepare that team for a really good tilt at the MacRory Cup in that final year.”

The achievements at the younger stages of college football are appreciated and hard earned, but boys become men in the MacRory Cup. Getting their hands on that trophy, ending that lengthy dry spell, was the goal.

“The target was to win the MacRory Cup. Every team entering into a competition sets their eyes on winning it but there’s always elements of doubt. It’s sport at the end of the day and the MacRory Cup is at the very top level.

“The MacRory Cup is hugely, hugely competitive. You have the top brass of all the younger age footballers from across Ulster competing in it and it’s an extremely difficult competition to win, no matter how good a team you think you have.

“Any day you go out, you’re going to be under pressure to deliver but we were setting out our stall, that was our ambition at the start of the year. We knew we had a team that was capable of winning the MacRory Cup.”

The years of big-game experience stood to the team in the end, as Fitzpatrick explains.

“We knew that the ability was there, the skillset was there but you always need the little things to go your way just to get across the line and thankfully they did.

“That team, the experience they had gained in the five or six years previous to that, having competed in all those colleges finals down through the years – that had definitely stood to them in the MacRory Cup year.

“I think of the team that played the final, six of those players had contested in every Ulster Colleges final. The two captains, Pierce Smyth and Cian McManus, Thomas Galligan, Matthew McKenna, Ben Conaty and Brian Sheanon.”

One of the standout names on the team sheet was that of Thomas Galligan. The Lacken clubman went on to help Cavan win that famous Ulster title in 2020, picking up an All-Star award along the way.

But before the rest of the country saw his talents on the national stage, MacRory Cup followers were well aware of his ability.

“He was a mountain of a man; he had an unbelievable final that day to be fair to him,” Fitzpatrick reflected.

“He was all over the pitch. He came up with a couple of crucial scores, I think he had a fisted point just before half time. Even in the latter end of the game he got another point to extend the lead that little bit more and he just did the basics well.

“He was getting back into the box and any high ball that came in there, he cleared the lines a couple of times. He was driving up the field to support and he had a massive game in that final – he was well deserving of man of the match.

“His commitment and dedication to the cause couldn’t be questioned throughout his schools career. He’s been travelling for the last couple of years, so he hasn’t been involved with the county but hopefully we’ll see him back in the blue and white in the near future too.”

Everyone played their part and a cumulation of years and years of hard work finally paid off. St Patrick’s eased to the title, defeating St Patrick’s Dungannon by 10 points in the end, 2-12 to 0-8.

While the Breffni boys were comfortable heading down the home straight, the true appreciation of what they had just accomplished together didn’t sink in until long after the final whistle had sounded.

“It was phenomenal,” Fitzpatrick described. “You are kind of in a little bubble almost in that you don’t fully appreciate the significance of it or something.

“The instant reaction is always relief number one and then gradually you begin to enjoy it more.

“It was like a pressure valve released almost in that the boys had achieved what they deserved. They had worked so hard to put themselves in that position but at the end of the day that doesn’t always get you across the line.

“It was great that they had actually succeeded, and they had got across the line. It was a relief and then the pure excitement and joy followed after. There was a huge crowd at the final that day and we’d huge support from Cavan.

“To see everybody out on the pitch after enjoying it and all the smiles on the faces, they were special moments for the lads with their families and their clubmates. Sharing round the cup and things like that, you’ll remember for the rest of your days.”