All-Ireland final week

All-Ireland final week

6 March 2024

IT’S All-Ireland final week and the St Malachy’s High School, Castlewellan, footballers are hoping to write their names into the history books.

Their date with destiny is this Saturday as the students make the trip to the Netwatch Dr Cullen Park in Carlow to square off against Kerry outfit Tarbet Comprehensive School for the grand prize at 2pm.

It has been a whirlwind season for the St Malachy’s team, who captured Ulster honours in the form of the Markey Cup for the first time in 14 years before securing a dramatic extra-time victory for the third time in their last four outings to progress to this weekend’s finale.

With such pressure falling upon young shoulders it would be easy to assume there is some unrest within the St Malachy’s ranks, however, 18 year-old centre-half forward James Savage insists there is anything but.

“There is a great buzz around the school and everyone is talking about it,” he said.

“The teachers are as excited as we are, it’s a little surreal but everyone is looking forward to the final.

“We’ve seen photos of our opponents and they seem like a bigger team than us but I would back ourselves against any team,” he continued.

“Every single one of us are best mates, every lunch time we are sitting together and discussing the match because we can’t wait for it.”

An added element of support for the Castlewellan outfit is the helping hand of Down senior manager Conor Laverty, who has been assisting team coaches Peter Hynes and Kieran Maguire in their preparation.

This has given the squad an added boost and has been a welcomed asset to the team.

“Conor Laverty originally came in to talk to us at the quarter-final stage of the Markey Cup just to show his support and let us know that he is behind us,” said James.

“Since then, he has been a regular at our training sessions and his knowledge and input has been fantastic.

“Take nothing away from Mr Hynes and Mr Maguire, they have been top class with us all of the way.

“In our first group game we played St Mark’s and we suffered a three-point defeat,” he continued. 

“We just weren’t ourselves and after that Mr Hynes sat us down and told us every game is a final. We since added about five or six Year 12 students onto our senior panel and even a Year 11, Caolan Flanagan, and without those additions we wouldn’t be where we are now.”

There are plenty of talented footballers within the squad, such as Eoghan Travers and Chris Kelly-McEvoy, amongst others, although James points towards Taidgh O’Hanlon as the one the team looks towards to drag them through the murky waters in order to get the desired result.

“Taidgh O’Hanlon would be the boy we look to in order to help us advance in extra-time,” said James.

“With so many of our contests going past the regulation time, our fitness has proven time and time again to be the difference.

“We are a really fit squad and that all comes down to how hard we train and how seriously we have all taken it.”

For James himself though, he may be watching from the sidelines as he continues to regain full fitness following an ongoing injury issue.

“I had a suspected tear in my quadricep and it’s been causing me a lot of bother,” said James.

“Conor Laverty actually took me to visit the Down GAA physios to help with my recovery although it’s not looking likely that I’ll be fully mended in time for the final.

“Nevertheless, there is meant to be eight or nine bus loads from Castlewellan heading down to Carlow so I’ll be in the thick of it either way.”

Meanwhile, St Malachy’s principal Eileen O’Hara also voiced her support ahead of this weekend’s all-important decider.

“I urge the boys to continue to give their all on the pitch,” she said.

“The team has already proven that they have what it takes to succeed and I have no doubt that they will carry that same determination and passion into the final match.”