Write a commentFor the First Time ever St Paul’s High School has reached the final of the Ulster Colleges’ Mac Larnon Cup
Just three years after they joined Ulster Colleges’ Football St Paul’s will take on St Mary’s Christian Brothers’ Grammar School, Belfast on Saint Patrick's Day in the Athletic Grounds, Armagh at 11.15 a.m.
BT Mac Larnon Cup/ Mac Rory Cup Player Profile
School: St Paul’s High School Bessbrook
Player Name (English): Sean O'Callaghan
Player Name (Irish): Sean O'Callaghan
Club: Dorsey Emmetts
Position: Full - Forward
Weight: 11 ST 6
Height: 5ft 11
Age: 18
Honours: 3 Armagh Championships, Twice runners-up in Ulster final
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Player Name (English): Michael Murphy
Player Name (Irish): Micheal Mac Murchaidh
Club: Killeavy
Position: Midfield
Weight: 12ST
Height: 6ft 2
Age: 16
Honours: U14 All County Championship/ League/ Feile
U14 South Armagh Championship/ League
St Paul’s U14 Vocational Schools Championship
St Paul’s Herald Cup
U16 South Armagh League/Championship
U16 All County League/Championship
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Player Name (English): Caolan Mc Aleer
Player Name (Irish): Caolan Mac Giolla Ui r
Club: Lissummon
Position: Goal Keeper
Weight: 11 ST 2
Height: 6ft
Age: 16
Honours: 3rd Year Ulster Vocational School
5th Year BT Herald Cup
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Player Name (English): Ronan Finnegan
Player Name (Irish): Ronan O Fionnaga in
Club: Crossmaglen Rangers
Position: Defender
Weight: 11 ST 6
Height: 5ft 11
Age: 18
Honours: U12, U14, U16 Championship
Two U21 Championships
1 Senior Championship
4 Ulster Titles
1 All Ireland Minor
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Player Name (English): Ciaron O’Hanlon
Player Name (Irish): Cia ron O hAnluain
Club: Killeavy
Position: Half Forward
Weight: 12ST 2
Height: 6ft
Age: 16
Honours: U14 All County Championship/League/Feile
U16 All County League/Championship
St Paul’s Treanor Cup
St Paul’s Herald Cup
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Player Name (English): Jemar Hall
Player Name (Irish): Jamar de Ha l
Club: Forkhill
Position: Corner Forward
Weight: 10ST
Age: 17
Honours: Ulster in 3rd Year
Minor B Championship
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Player Name (English): Patrick Rice
Player Name (Irish): Pa draig de Ri s
Club: Dromintee
Position: Corner Back
Weight: 11ST
Height: 5ft 10
Age: 18
Honours: U14 Player of the year
U16 Shield Winners
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Player Name (English): Jamie Cosgrove
Player Name (Irish): Seamus Mac Oscair
Club: Killeavy
Position: Corner Back
Weight: 10 ST
Height: 5ft 10
Age: 16
Honours: U14 All County Feile/ League/
U16 All County League/ Championship
Herald Cup
Trainor Cup
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Player Name (English): Blaine Hughes
Player Name (Irish): Blaine O hAodha
Club: Carrickcruppen
Position: Goalkeeper
Weight: 8ST 6
Height: 5ft 8
Age: 15
Honours: U16 Armagh Championship
U16 All County League
U14 League Div 2
Trainor Cup
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Player Name (English): Conor Mc Keown
Player Name (Irish): Conchu n Mac Eoghain
Club: Shane O’ Neills
Position: Goalkeeper
Weight: 13ST
Height: 6ft 3
Age: 18
Honours: U16 League
Minor Championship
Armagh Feile
Armagh Minor 2010
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Player Name (English): Ciaran Mc Cooey
Player Name (Irish): Ciara n Mac Cumhai
Club: Cullyhanna
Position: Right Half Forward
Weight: 10 ST
Height: 5ft 9
Age: 17
Honours: Minor Championship
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Player Name (English): Barry Toner
Player Name (Irish): Barra O Tomhnair
Club: Dromintee
Position: Defender
Weight: 10 ST 6
Height: 5ft 8
Age: 17
Honours: U16 Shield Winners
Captain U14 and U16 Dromintee
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Player Name (English): Jamie Cunningham
Player Name (Irish): Seamas Mac Cuinneaga in
Club: Dromintee
Position: Defender
Weight: 10ST 6
Height: 5ft 10
Age: 17
Honours: U16 Player Of the Year
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Player Name (English): Gregory Mc Cabe
Player Name (Irish): Gre agoir Mac Ca ba
Club: Shane O’Neills
Position: Half Forward
Weight: 9ST
Height: 5ft 9
Age: 15
Honours: Feile
All Armagh County Winners
U14 South Armagh Championship
Trainor Cup
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Player Name (English): Patrick Faloon
Player Name (Irish): Pa draig O Fallu in
Club: Killeavy
Position: Forward
Weight: 8ST 6
Height: 5ft 5
Age: 18
Honours: Armagh All County League
U14 All County Championship
U14 All County League
U14 Armagh Vocational Schools Championship
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Player Name (English): Stephan Lavelle
Player Name (Irish): Stiofa n O Maola bhail
Club: Mullaghbawn
Position: Half Back
Weight: 11ST 6
Height: 5ft 10
Age: 17
Honours: Mc Devit Cup
Herald Cup
U16 All County League Div 3
U16 League Div 2
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Player Name (English): Peter Campbell
Player Name (Irish): Peadar Mac Cathmhaoil
Club: Dromintee
Position: Full Back
Weight: 10 ST
Height: 5ft 8
Age: 15
Honours: Trainor Cup
Ulster Og Sport Sheild
U14 County Championship
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Player Name (English): Eoghan Burns
Player Name (Irish): Eoghan O Broin
Club: Silverbridge Harps
Position: Right Half Back
Weight: 11ST 6
Height: 5ft 10
Age: 15
Honours: Herald Cup
All County Feile
Trainor Cup
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Player Name (English): Caola n Trainor
Player Name (Irish): Caolan Mac Thre inir
Club: Killeavy
Position: Forward
Weight: 11ST
Height: 5ft 10
Age: 17
Honours: Bt Ulster Colleges All Star 2010
Vocational Schools All Star 2007
U16 League
U16 Championship
U14 League
Minor All County League
Ulster Final Runner Up 2010
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Player Name (English): Aidan Rooney
Player Name (Irish): Aodha n O Ruanaidh
Club: St John’s Bosco GFC
Position: Full Back
Weight: 10ST 5
Height: 5ft 10
Age: 18
Honours: U12 South Down Div 2 League
U12 Championship
U14 Championship
U14 All County
U16 Div 1 League
Runner Up Junior Championship
Armagh Vocational Schools Championship
U14 Ulster Runner Up
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Player Name (English): Joseph Grant
Player Name (Irish): Seosamh Grant
Club: Killeavy
Position: Forward
Weight: 11ST 5
Height: 5ft 11
Age: 18
Honours: U14 League
U14 Championship
U16 Ulster B Hurling Winner
U16 All Ireland B Hurling Winner
Minor Ulster League Hurling Winner
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Player Name (English): Lonnie Larkin
Player Name (Irish): Lona n O Lorca in
Club: Killeavy GAC
Position: Defender
Weight: 11ST 4
Height: 5ft 9
Age: 18
Honours:Ulster Vocationals Schools Runners Up
South Armagh U18 League winners
All County U18 League Winners 2009
U18 County Championship runners up 2009
Down Minor League Panel 2010
U15 All Ireland Medal
Armagh Development Squad 2007
Gold Ulster Schools Team Cross Country 2007
N.I Representative at the 2010 UK Games in Newcastle England
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Player Name (English): Diarmuid Mc Conville
Player Name (Irish): Diarmuid Mac Conmhaoil
Club: Crossmaglen Rangers GFC
Position: Mid Field
Weight: 12ST 5
Height: 6ft 1
Age: 17
Honours: U10 League And Championship
U12 League And Championship
U14 League And Championship
U16 League And Championship
U21 Club Championship
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Player Name (English): Fionna n Burns
Player Name (Irish): Fionna n O Broin
Club: Silverbridge
Position: Back
Weight: 11ST 6
Height: 5ft 11
Age: 16
Honours: 3 Ulster
1 All Ireland
4 Armagh Championships
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Player Name (English): Conor Moley
Player Name (Irish): Conchur O Moghlaigh
Club: Dorsey Emmet’s
Position: Half Back
Weight: 11ST 3
Height: 5ft 9
Age: 17
Honours:
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Player Name (English): Gerald Doherty
Player Name (Irish): Gearalt O Dochairtaigh
Club: Mullabawn
Position: Midfeild / Forward
Weight: 12 ST 6
Height: 6ft 1
Age: 17
Honours: 3rd Year Vocationals Ulster
Herald Cup
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Player Name (English): Paul Og Grant
Player Name (Irish): Pol O g Grant
Club: Crossmaglen Rangers
Position: Full Forward
Weight: 11ST
Height: 5ft 10
Age: 17
Honours: 2010 Div 1 League
South Armagh League
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Player Name (English): David Mc Cabe
Player Name (Irish): Daithi Mac Ca ba
Club: Shane O’Neill’s
Position: Forward
Weight: 10ST
Height: 6ft
Age: 18
Honours: All County Feile
Armagh Minor Championship
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Player Name (English): Marc Feehan
Player Name (Irish): Marcus O Fiacha in
Club: Shane O’Neills
Position: Full Forward
Weight: 10ST 5
Height: 5ft 11
Age: 17
Honours: 2 U14 All County Felie
U14 South Armagh Championship
U14 All County Championship
U14 Vocational Ulster
Herald Cup
Armagh Minor Champions 2010
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Player Name (English): Andrew Kilgallon
Player Name (Irish): Aindriu Mac Giolla Ghanna in
Club: Dromintee
Position: Mid Field
Weight: 11ST 5
Height: 5ft 9
Age: 17
Honours: Ulster Vocational Schools Cup 3RD Year
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Player Name (English): Daniell Martin
Player Name (Irish): Do nall O Ma irtin
Club: Shane O’Neill’s
Position: Full Back
Weight: 12ST 6
Height: 5ft 10
Age: 18
Honours: 2 U14 Armagh Feile
U14 South Armagh Championship
U14 All Armagh Championship
Armagh Minor Championship
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Player Name (English): Aidan Nugent
Player Name (Irish): Aodha n Nuinseann
Club: Cullyhanna
Position: Corner Forward
Weight: 9ST 6
Height: 5ft 7
Age: 16
Honours: South Down Championship 5th Year
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Player Name (English): Peter Hughes
Player Name (Irish): Peader O hAodha
Club: Dromintee
Position: Corner Back
Weight: 12ST
Height: 5ft 10
Age: 15
Honours: U12 Championship
U14 League & Championship
U14 All County Championship
U15 All County Og Sport
U16 South Armagh Shield
Treanor Cup Winner 2010
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Player Name (English): Aaron Mc Kay
Player Name (Irish): Aaron Mac Aodha
Club: Dromintee
Position: Corner Back
Weight: 11st
Height: 5ft 9
Age: 15
Honours: U15 All County Og Sport
U16 South Armagh Shield
Treanor Cup Winner 2010
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Player Name (English): Adrian O Grady
Player Name (Irish): Aodhan O Grada
Club: Dromintee
Position: Corner Back
Weight: 12ST
Height: 5ft 8
Age: 18
Honours: U14 South Armagh Shield
Principal Mr Oliver Mooney Commented "St Paul’s, Bessbrook joined the Ulster Colleges’ family only three years ago and have already collected a number of trophies, including last year’s Herald Cup."
"This talented group of footballers have been nurtured through their local football clubs in South Armagh and have been coached and challenged by their teachers within St Paul’s. Head of Sport, John Rafferty, leads an enthusiastic and committed team of teachers who have instilled in these young men the desire to always achieve their best. Gaelic football is primarily a team sport and it is by unselfishly sacrificing individual glory that great teams are created."
"Ulster Colleges’ football is without doubt one of the greatest advertisements for Gaelic sports. An absence of cynicism and a whole hearted effort to reach for team success, games sprinkled with silken skills and never ending effort and after all that the hope of victory."
"I hope that on St Patrick’s Day, St Paul’s can win the Mac Larnon but I am confident that whoever wins, our Ulster Colleges’ Gaelic tradition will be enhanced."
"Good luck to all the teams involved on what should be a memorable St Patrick’s Day and thank you to the teachers and officials who make it all possible."
Manager Martin O'Rourke:
"It is a great honour to be involved in what is St. Paul’s first MacLarnon Cup Final in only our third year in Ulster Colleges’ football. It is a privilege to have coached this exceptional group of young players and their success in reaching today’s final is evidence of the hard work, determination and teamwork that has developed among this group."
"I would like to take this opportunity to thank all our colleagues who have facilitated us throughout the year for matches and training sessions. In particular Mr. Mooney has been very supportive towards the development of Gaelic games in my time at St. Paul’s. The local feeder clubs deserve recognition and praise for the tremendous work, support and coaching that has contributed to the development of all our students down through the years."
"It is important at this time to offer appreciation to all the hard work, dedication and coaching expertise that is currently available to boys’ Gaelic football within the school from members of our staff. I would like to give particular mention to John Rafferty who has been instrumental in all recent successes in Gaelic football at St. Paul’s. It is no coincidence that his arrival has seen a major change in attitude and commitment of students to Gaelic games within the school which is now bearing fruit. It is testament to the foresight of Mr. Mooney and John that their belief in the ability of the students of St. Paul’s has seen a successful transition to Colleges’ football."
"I would like to wish good luck to all involved in the MacLarnon final today and we look forward to a sporting contest which will hopefully live long in the memory."
Coach John Rafferty:
"It’s great for St. Paul’s High School to be represented by such an honest, hardworking and humble bunch of young men on Saint Patrick’s Day. Their involvement in the school’s first ever MacLarnon final is testimony to the dedication, commitment and endeavour of the boys and their manager Martin O’Rourke. Over the last five years Martin has trained, moulded and persisted with this panel of players. It is fitting for the players who have persevered, that they will be the first school team to play in a MacLarnon final as they have worked so hard to overcome many sporting disappointments during their time in St. Paul’s. I’m sure that the boys’ families are as proud of them as we are in the school. We look forward to seeing the players go forward from St. Patrick’s Day and continue to grow in their commitment to and love of Gaelic Games with their clubs and hopefully their county. On behalf of the boys I would like to thank all the staff (especially our Principal Mr. Mooney and Miss. Keenan) for their help and co-operation for games and their understanding when the conversations strayed to football during the year. Finally, a word of thanks to all our feeder clubs and sponsors whose contributions over the year have helped make this a memorable day for the boys. "
Coach Eoghan Jones
"I am 14 years old and I love St Paul’s especially the physical education, it’s brilliant. I have always loved Gaelic football within the school, from first year up until seventh. I am currently in the position of helping out with the seventh years by attending their matches and training sessions. I also supply them with some first aid and water if required."
"I really enjoy working with the team and all the PE staff as they are always full of craic. If there is anything needed I would be first on the scene as anyone who knows me would be able to tell you. I love playing Gaelic for my club Shane O’Neill’s Camlough."
" I know a lot about first aid as I am a bronze medallion holder. I got this on the 13th of February through hard training. It is one of my biggest achievements along with completing a 30 mile charity cycle with the BCC Camlough, and by taking part in the Camlough Lake last splash. I know a lot about the human body and how it works due to swimming, running, cycling and football, these are some of the main sports I do."
" From being with the seventh years it has given me a great experience, as I have been asked to become an under age mentor for Shane O’Neill’s. From the time I have spent with the seventh years I have made some great friends and hopefully I will be taking away a lot of good memories and hopefully one of them will be of us winning the Mac Larnon cup final in 2011. From the bottom of my heart I believe they will never give up the battle until the battle is won."
