A rare all-Monaghan Danske Bank Ulster Colleges MacLarnon Cup Final takes place on St. Patrick’s Day in Armagh. Our Lady’s Secondary School, Castleblayney and Patrician High School, Carrickmacross will contest the curtain-raiser to the MacRory Cup Final after impressive runs to this stage. Both schools had comprehensive wins over Tyrone opposition in the quarter-finals, where Our Lady’s put St. Ciarán’s, Ballygawley to the sword and Patrician powered past Holy Trinity, Cookstown. They both also got through their semi-finals with a bit to spare, as Our Lady’s proved too strong for St. Louis, Ballymena and Patrician got the better of St. Malachy’s, Belfast.
A cracking local derby is in store between two teams who can call on several players with county minor experience, as well as members of last year’s double-winning Donaghmoyne minor team. Patrician’s attack is led by David Garland and rising Meath star Dáire Rowe, with Aaron Jones, Ronan McDonald, Thomas Finnegan and goalkeeper Shane Garland giving them strength in all sectors. Our Lady’s have two current Ulster Colleges All-Stars in centre-half back Barry Kerr (who won his second award in December) and chief marksman Barry McGinn, who captained the Monaghan minors last year. Micheál Bannigan, Aaron Courtney, Conor Marray, Jamie Walshe, Damien Ward and James Wilson are other key players for the Blayney school.
Throw-in at the Athletic Grounds is at 11am on Tuesday.
By Majella Boyd Mon 16th Mar
