Gaelic Games in Our Lady’s Secondary School Castleblayney received a great boost last week when it was announced that Barry Kerr and Barry Mc Ginn were selected on the Ulster Colleges All-Star team of 2014/2015, the ultimate individual award in Ulster Colleges football. This is the first time since Stephen Mc Ginnity and Michael Deery were selected on the Ulster Colleges All Star team of 1988 that the Our Lady’s has had two representatives on the All Star team. Both players attended an initial trial in Cookstown on Tuesday December 2nd and were selected to compete in a final trial game last Wednesday December 10th in Belfast. Throughout both games both players displayed their excellent footballing skill and ability as well as a keen work ethic that brought them to the attention of the selectors present. On Friday morning there was great excitement in the school when it was announced that Barry Kerr had been selected at left half back and Barry Mc Ginn at centre half forward on the Ulster Colleges All Star team of 2014.
Barry Mc Ginn is the son of Gerry and Veronica Mc Ginn from Doohamlet and he plays his club football with the Doohamlet Club. Barry has been a member of the County Minor Panel this past three years, he won an Ulster Minor Championship with Monaghan in 2013 and captained the Monaghan Minor team last year. Barry Kerr is the son of Ciaran and Ann Kerr from Annyalla in Cremartin and he plays his club football with Cremartin. Barry is a current member of the Monaghan Minor Panel and played centre half back on the Minor team last year. This is the second successive year that Barry has received this award as last year he was selected at right corner back on the Ulster Colleges All Star team of 2013. This has ensured that Barry is the first player in the history of the school who has received two Ulster Colleges All Star Awards.
This is Our Lady’s seventh Ulster Colleges All-Star and indeed their fifth award from 2006. Speaking at the school during the week Principal Mr. Kelly who also coaches the Senior Boys football team along with Mr. Bishop and Mr. Lonergan congratulated both boys on their outstanding achievement. ‘ for a school to have one Ulster Colleges All Star in any year is a fantastic achievement but to achieve two in one year is a huge honour and one of which we in Our Lady’s are justifiably and extremely proud. Both boys have been and continue to be excellent ambassadors for Gaelic games in the school and are great role models for the younger players in the school. I am delighted that the skill and commitment that we see on a daily basis has been recognised at provincial level and I have no doubt that with continued hard work and application that they both have great futures ahead of them in Gaelic Games. The high levels of success we have enjoyed in GAA in recent years is a testimony to the great work done by all teachers involved in coaching & promoting GAA’
