07-02-2025
MacRory new boys Abbey Vocational face Maghera in final
Sunday's MacRory Cup Final at Celtic Park (15:00 GM) will be live on the BBC iPlayer and BBC Sport Website as Donegal Town school Abbey Vocational battle in their first season in the Ulster Colleges competition against 16-time champions St Patrick's College while Abbey Vocational may be short of MacRory Cup experience, this group of players are proven winners with over 10 of the squad having helped Four Masters win two Ulster Minor Club titles. In addition, the majority of the Abbey side, who are coached by Gweedore man Stuart McFadden, clinched the MacLarnon Cup and All-Ireland B Colleges titles last year. Abbey captain Turlough Carr says reaching the final at the first time of asking is an "unbelievable achievement" but admits they will have no inferiority complex against the MacRory past masters."We have a very strong team and we have very good experience. We've competed in Ulster Club Championship and we've won two of them so we're looking forward to having another crack," said Pat's Maghera captain is Cahal McKaigue, a cousin of former Derry star Chrissy McKaigue, who is part of the management team led by Sean Marty man Lockhart captained the Maghera school to MacRory Cup and Hogan Cup glory all of 30 years ago."You walk in the school in first year, you go there to win the MacRory Cup. That's why you go to St Pat's," says midfielder McKaigue, who like Chrissy, hails from Slaughtneil."The hunger is definitely there. The group really wants it and the buzz is very, very good around the school."The BBC coverage will begin at 14:50 GMT with Conor Glass and Ryan McHugh on punditry duty as Mark Sidebottom presents the broadcast and Thomas Niblock is on commentary.
