St. Louis Grammar School, Kilkeel. 2-09 St. Patrick’s Grammar School, Armagh 0-13

The Gaelic football profile of St. Louis Grammar School, Kilkeel, gets more impressive with each year. From playing Ulster Colleges ‘C’ football 12 years ago, the Kilkeel school is now on the verge of completing a achievement which would be the stuff of ‘fairy tales.’ St. Louis have qualified for the Bank of Ireland Ulster Colleges McRory Cup final, a fantastic and somewhat unbelievable feat for the small, co-ed Grammar school, from the foot of the Mournes.

After overcoming the challenge of St. Macartan’s College, Monaghan, in the Quarter-final, St. Louis knew well the difficulty of their task in overcoming the Millennium Champions, St. Pat’s of Armagh. With a strong panel and a lot of tradition in their favour, St. Pat’s were always going to start this game as favourites to progress to the St. Patrick’s Day final. However, the men from Mourne had other ideas and were keen to show that their crowning as All-Ireland Senior ‘B’ Champions last year was a testament to the quality of players in their ranks. Coach Cathal Murray was eager to get this contest started “the boys are ready, just bring it on”. This message showed the intensity of focus and determination radiating out of the Newry Road school.

In front of an impressively large crowd, the game began with the gladiatorial clash of two pairs of inter-county forwards. The contest between the Down pairing of James Colgan and Joseph Ireland against Charlie Vernon (Captain of Ireland’s U-17 Compromise Rule team)of Armagh and Colm Cavanagh (younger brother of Tyrone star Sean) would prove to be crucial to the outcome of this semi-final tie. However, it was the St. Pat’s pair who got off to the better early start. Two early points from JJ Clarke, fed by accurate passing from the midfield pair, gave St. Louis some cause for concern. JJ Clarke, brother of Armagh star Ronan, was giving the St. Louis full-back line a lot of trouble using his strength and the high quality balls delivered in, to his advantage. After Charlie Vernon notched up St. Pat’s third point, the St. Louis midfield sprang into action. With James Colgan playing an effective holding role in the middle, Joseph Ireland went on the offensive, causing the highly rated Charlie Vernon to play the role of chaser, a role he would be destined to play for the rest of the game.

St. Louis finally opened their account after seven minutes with a pointed free from Ritchie Annett. With Martin Clarke and Peter Fitzpatrick opening up the St. Pat’s defence, the Armagh school conceded more frees allowing Ritchie Annett to slot over a second point. St. Pat’s counter-attacked by hitting their full-forward line as quickly as possible, a ploy that should reaped them more dividends. Although Joseph Ireland fisted the ball over the St. Pat’s bar to add to the Kilkeel tally, the Mourne school was experiencing some problems in its rearguard. With the St. Louis full-back line, normally very effective, playing below their normal standard, the Armagh school won frees and the accuracy of Charlie Vernon and JJ Clarke put two more points on the scoreboard. The lively Philip McBirney was keeping David Morgan extremely busy, picking up plenty of loose ball from the Luke Howard battle with JJ Clarke.

In spite of their slow start, the early breakthrough came from St. Louis in the twelfth minute, as the St. Pat’s defence failed cope with the dynamic running style of style of Ritchie, which resulted in referee Mickey Convery awarding the Kilkeel school a penalty. With little hesitation, Martin Clarke stepped up to slot the ball into the net past the helpless St. Pat’s keeper. This score was greeted with thunderous cheer from the large Mourne contingent.

St. Pat’s again rallied with some very quick counter-attacking play, two missed frees from Colm Cavanagh did very little to help their cause. In contrast the trusted boot of Ritchie Annett was more than effective as the An Riocht sharpshooter slotted over another free. With Christopher Morgan and James Cunningham giving St. Louis plenty of width, gaps were beginning to appear in the Armagh defence. Indeed a pass from Martin Clarke put James Cunningham through with an opportunity on goal appearing in front of him. Cunningham rounded an Armagh defender and blasted the ball into the net to put the Kilkeel school in a commanding position. It was a marvellous moment not only for St. Louis, but also a personal triumph for James, who has spent the last three months fighting injury to get ready for this moment. Indeed, James contribution was to be immense as he utilised his speed an strength effectively as part of a very mobile St. Louis forward unit.

Realising that they had to chase the game, St. Pat’s pushed the Kilkeel defence hard, but the resolute defending from the half back line of Fergal Doyle, Eamon McConville and Gerard McCartan denied the Armagh much space. St. Pat’s thought they had been given a lifeline when a Charlie Vernon free got flicked on by JJ Clarke, past Colm Curran into the Kilkeel net. However, the umpires called the referee, Mickey Convery, in and after much deliberation, they agreed that Clarke was in the small square before the ball and the goal was controversially disallowed.

This was a let off for the Mourne school, who were coming under increasing pressure. With every ball being fought for in the middle of the park, Rory McManus picked up a breaking ball and laid it off to Martin Clarke. After a fantastic solo run he fired in a fantastic shot, but agonised as it went narrowly wide. St. Pat’s, however, now began to find their range as John McCormack and Philip McBirney fired over frees, whilst Colm Cavanagh slotted over a fine individual point, to leave just two points between the sides. However, St. Louis finished the half on a better note with a powerful point from Peter Fitzpatrick. Half-time score St. Louis 2-05, St. Pat’s Armagh 0-08.

Although they were classified as underdogs for this game, one could be forgiven for thinking St. Louis would be happy to go in three points up, but the St. Louis management were insistent that their charges up their work rate and performance for the second half. Certainly it was a more settled and focused Kilkeel team that took to the field. From the whistle it was clear that the St. Louis midfield where a pair on a mission. They had their Armagh opponents running in circles after them. The first opportunity of the second half fell to St. Pat’s, but John McCormack failed to convert the free, a miss like some others for the Armagh side, which would prove costly at the end of the day. No such problem at the other end where Martin Clarke got onto the end of an Eamon McConville pass, to open the St. Louis account for the second half.

With St. Louis looking increasingly confident in many areas of the pitch, Cathal Murray and his assistant Steven McVeigh, appeared concerned about the full back line. They introduced Paul Sherry and things certainly seemed to tighten up. This was a fabulous moment in the comeback trail of this talented Down Minor, as Paul Sherry had undergone surgery last October. A key figure in last years successes, Sherry’s experience was vital for St. Louis at this stage of the contest. Indeed, the whole defensive unit tighten up and with Hugh Magee and Eamon McConville picking up plenty of break ball much to the frustration of the Armagh attack.

However, Charlie Vernon reduced the arrears with a well taken point, after a St. Louis attack was broken down. The Kilkeel reply to this was swift and produced one of the best scores of the game. Rory McManus picked up a lose ball and played it to Eamon McConville, who in turn found his Rostrevor clubmate Gerard McCartan. As McCartan surged forward, the Armagh defence looked to bottle up the likely marksman, Martin Clarke, not expecting McCartan to continue his run. As the Armagh defence realised the McCartan might shoot, he popped the ball over the bar from thirty yards, lifting the hearts and souls of the Mourne players and supporters alike.

St. Pat’s, however, hit back with a point from JJ Clarke, before Vernon squandered a free. St. Louis, much to the frustration of their coaches, began a phase of missing opportunities. Ritchie Annett missed a chance, quickly followed by another from Christopher Morgan and a free from Martin Clarke. To be fair to the Armagh defence, they quickly and impressively closed down the Kilkeel attack, forcing efforts to be snatched at. There was a feeling that the Kilkeel school might live to rue these chances, but then came another moment of sheer brilliance. With a lot of the action taking place in between the ‘fifties’, it took a immense concentration from keeper Colm Curran in the Kilkeel goals to keep a wary eye on things. However, the Bryansford ‘keeper displayed his worth with a match winning save from point blank effort from JJ Clarke. At the other end Martin Clarke added a score from a free, only to find it quickly cancelled out with a point from a free from Philip McBirney.

The final twelve minutes saw the introduction of Luke Toner into the St. Louis attack. This was the Castlewellan man’s first outing of the year, but he certainly showed some signs of the talent which helped St. Louis win trophies last year. St. Pat’s went on a late, desperate surge to try and salvage something from the game. Two further points from Philip McBirney might have given cause for concern, but for a final point from Martin Clarke, which saw St. Louis hold on to a two point lead at the finish.

The scale this victory was ready to be seen as the Mourne folk poured onto the Carrickcruppin pitch at the long whistle. The Mourne Gael’s of Longstone, Attical, Ballymartin, An Riocht and Glasdrumman, were joined in celebration by the Gael’s from Rostrevor, Bryansford and Castlewellan, as they enjoyed the moment, but looked forward to the big St. Patrick’s day outing. Indeed, the Kilkeel school had been encouraged by support from Gael’s from other Down schools and St. Louis certainly rallied to that support.

St. Louis principal, Sean Rogers, was ecstatic after the game, “It was a fantastic performance and it has brought more pride to St. Louis and the Mourne community”. Mr. Rogers gave an insight into the extent of this semi-final win, “To go from a McLarnon Cup final to a McRory final in just twelve months has never been done before, but I’ve witnessed the extent of the preparation these lads have undergone over the past six months, so it doesn’t really surprise me. We are now looking forward to the final with confidence”.

St. Louis now meet Omagh CBS in the final, which will be played on St. Patrick’s Day at Casement Park. The Kilkeel have already met the Tyrone school in the McCormack Cup final, played on the same venue in December. Unfortunately, St. Louis lost by a single point on that occasion, after leading for most of the game. The Mourne boys will be keen to exact revenge, but as Cathal Murray looks forward to the tie, he believes this game will be a tight affair, “We are simply delighted to be in this final. There wasn’t a lot between the sides last time and I’m sure this final will be a similar close contest. We have worked very hard to get to this fantastic stage and intend to give our all in our attempt to win the McRory Cup. However, there is still a lot of hard work to be done on the training pitch out at the Covent before the St. Patrick’s Day game.”

St. Louis Grammar School;

Colm Curran (Bryansford), David Morgan (Bryansford), Luke Howard (Bryansford), Hugh Magee (Longstone), Fergal Doyle (An Riocht), Eamon McConville (Rostrevor), Gerard McCartan (Rostrevor) 0-1, Joseph Ireland (Bryansford) 0-1, James Colgan (An Riocht) Captain, James Cunningham (An Riocht) 1-0, Martin Clarke (An Riocht) 1-3, Peter Fitzpatrick (Ballymartin) 0-1, Christopher Morgan (Attical)
Ritchie Annett (An Riocht) 0-3, Rory McManus (Ballymartin).
Subs; Paul Sherry (An Riocht) for David Morgan, Luke Toner (Castlewellan) for Christopher Morgan, Kevin Quinn (Attical), Mark Rafferty (Bryansford), Patrick Smyth (Longstone), Paul Curran (Bryansford), Luke Byrne (Bryansford), John Fitzpatrick (Ballymartin), Andrew Sloan (Attical) and Kevin Keenan (An Riocht) injured.