2007 Down GAA - Update on Down Vocational Schools U14 and U16 Competition

The Ulster Bank Down Vocational Schools U14 and U16 competitions are well underway at present and are nearing the semi-final stage in both competitions. Obviously 2006/2007 school year will be remembered for the extraordinary achievement of St Columbans College Kilkeel under the guidance of Steven Poacher winning the U16 Down/Ulster and All Ireland Title becoming the smallest school in the history of the competition to win it with a population of just 300 pupils. (135 of which are boys!) The remarkable fact is this is the 2nd consecutive year the All Ireland title has remained in Down with St Malachys Castlewellan having won it the previous year. This shows how difficult it can be to get out of Down and the high standard of schools that maybe don’t make it through.

Last year the Down Vocational Schools sector lost 2 valuable long standing teachers and true gaels to retirement. Mr Barney Mc Aleenan of St Marks and Mr Tom Cunningham of St Columbans.

This years Competitions have been very exciting to date and have produced some brilliant games in both U14 and U16 sections. In the U14 section Underdogs and Outsiders St Patricks Banbridge managed by Tony Kearney and Stephen Murray have been unlucky narrowly losing to favourites St Malachy’s Castlewellan in controversial Circumstances. St Marks the holders of the U14 competition were beaten in possibly the best game of the league section to date by St Columbans Kilkeel 3-12 to 3-09. S t Malachy’s have to complete the league section after the Halloween break by playing St Columbans Kilkeel who have won 4 out of 4 and this will dictate semi final parings. St Patricks along with De la Salle and St Joesephs Newry battling out for the 4th semi final spot.

The U16 competition which includes the current All Ireland champions St Columbans Kilkeel is proving to be one of the most interesting for a number of years. Up until last year St Marks and St Malachy’s have dominated the U16 competition but with St Columbans breaking the hold of the big 2 it has given other schools a great deal of hope and confidence. This years surprise package is De La Salle Downpatrick managed by Geroid Adams (Former Antrim County Star) and they are proving very difficult to beat having already won 2 and drawn with St Malachy’s Castlewellan who have been impressive to date winning all their games including a comprehensive victory over St Marks. The Holders St Columbans Kilkeel have had a mixed campaign to date having lost 14 of the starting 15 from last years team it’s a new challenge for Steven Poacher this year and his side is possibly a team to look out for next year with over half the starting 15 underage again next year. Kilkeel lost in a very competitive game to St Marks 1-12 to 0-12 who after Barney Mc Aleenan’s retirement are now managed by Sean O Hare from Burren. Like the U14 section St Malachy’s complete the league programme after Halloween by travelling to Ballymartin to play St Columbans in what will decide the semi final parings.

Its exciting times for the competition in Down as they reach their climax after Halloween where its hoped both the U14 and U16 county finals will be played at the new Pairc an Elser (Yet to be Confirmed). The next month will decide which teams at both ages are going forward to fly the flag for Down in Ulster and whichever school prevails will surely do their county proud.

Update on Down Vocational Schools U14 & U16 Competition