Three Tyrone schools set for MacRory Cup knockout action

THREE Tyrone schools put their MacRory Cup hopes on the line over the coming days as the prestigious competition, this year marking its centenary, reaches the quarter-final stages.

St Joseph’s Donaghmore are first into action tonight (Thurs) when they meet Abbey CBS in Coalisland (7.30pm). Then on Friday evening reigning Ulster and All-Ireland champions Omagh CBS tackle Our Lady’s Castleblayney at O’Neills Healy Park (7.30pm), while the following day in Galbally (2pm) St Patrick’s Dungannon collide with Patrician HS, Carrickmacross.

The opposition for each of the Tyrone representatives successfully came through a play-off fixture last weekend to seal their last eight spot, with the three Red Hand seats of learning having qualified automatically for the quarter-finals by topping their respective groups in the pre-Christmas  stages.

Holders Omagh CBS have six of the team that lifted the All-Ireland Hogan Cup Final last St Patrick’s Day at Croke Park available for this season, including captain Callum Daly and vice-captain Ruairi McCullagh. They have hit the ground running in defence of their provincial crown and made it three wins from three in their group with victories over St Paul’s Bessbrook, St Ronan’s Lurgan, and Patrician High Carrickmacross.

Team manager Diarmaid McNulty derived plenty of satisfaction from those performances and the various obstacles his young charges had to overcome in each of them.

“ On our first day out against Bessbrook we had nine boys making their debuts. It took us about half an hour to get into our stride but after that we played really well.

“ Then the next day against Lurgan we didn’t have our Dromore contingent available, who make up seven members of our squad, which meant we had to dig deep into our resources and show our strength in depth. But again we produced the goods when it mattered.

“ The third match at Garvaghey against Carrickmacross was played in brutal conditions, the rain was falling horizontally it was that bad. That was a different sort of challenge because of the freezing conditions but one we passed.

“ So in all three maches the lads have been posed different tests but came through them unbeaten which was pleasing. However we all know the real business starts now as it’s straight knock-out football from here on.”

In that regard McNulty is expecting a stern challenge against Castleblayney on Friday night, with the Farney side haviung caused something of an upset by toppling one of Ulster football’s traditional powerhouses St Colman’s last weekend.

“ To be honest having watched Castleblayney and heard a few things about them I wasn’t that surprised at that result,” stated Diarmaid. “They have some great scoring power which makes them a real threat in any game and that was the case against St Colman’s.

“ Like any Monaghan team they have that grit and determination but they are also laced with quality players, including several who played with the Monaghan Minor side last season which did so well.

“They are also backboned by the Castleblayney club side which featured in the St Paul’s tournament recently so they are definitely a real danger for us.”

Hindsight will determine whether Omagh CBS will avail of the advantage of additional preparation time having sat out last weekend’s playoff round, or conversely their opponents could look sharper due to that extra competitive game.

Diarmaid McNulty admits that recent history favours the side coming into the quarter-finals off the back of the playoffs.

“We were the only school who topped our group last year to come through the quarter-finals and even then we were pushed all the way. So it’s hard to tell whether teams who have the benefit of a run-out in the playoff the week before have the edge or not.”

The CBS manager acknowledges though that having ‘home’ advantage for the tie could weigh in the Brothers favour.

“ The match is at Healy Park which is a big plus for us. It is a venue our players know well and where many have enjoyed success in the past. There is a good buzz at the school this week and we hope for good support under the lights this Friday.

“ If you look at all the (playoff) games last week  there was just a point or two in it either way for the most part and I would expect the quarter-finals to be no different.”

Meanwhile Donaghmore’s addition to the top level brought to four the number of Tyrone schools involved in the MacRory Cup in 2023/24, a record participation from one county in a single school year. Last year’s MacLarnon Cup and Drummond Cup winners St Joseph’s have aquitted themselves well so far competing in this highest tier of Ulster Schools football.

They ensured their maiden campaign would continue into the knockout stages in the New Year with a fully-merited comeback victory over Castleblayney in their final group outing, Darragh Donnelly, Noah Grimes and Joseph Corrigan among those leading their second half revival.

The Convent lads will be quietly optmistic of securing a berth in the semi-finals tonight against the Abbey, albeit the Newry boys will be buoyed themselves by their playoff triumph against St Ronan’s Lurgan last weekend.

On Saturday afternoon St Patrick’s Dungannon aim to continue their quest for glory against Carrickmacross. The Academy encountered few problems in getting past the group phase, with the likes of Sean Hughes, Liam McGeary and Finn Spence impressing.

Dungannon have already enjoyed a memorable season on the Ulster Schools front having annexed the Rannafast Cup prior to Christmas and appear to have the tools in their older age group to push for silverware too. Patrician though will habour similar ambitions themselves as they made the trek to Pearse Park, and demonstrated their goal threat by hiting the net five times in their derby trumph against St Macartans Monaghan last Saturday.