Southwest Donegal to face Abbey VS in MacRory Cup

BY MATTHEW WILSON

Southwest Donegal manager Shay Murrin is expecting a tough test when his side meet the Abbey Vocational School this Friday in the MacRory Cup.

Southwest Donegal reached the last four of the competition in their maiden year competing last term however, they lost their opening group encounter against Our Lady’s Castleblaney last week.

In what was a difficult assignment for the Southwest Donegal side, Murrin expressed that Castleblaney men were better equipped than his side at this stage of the competition.

However, he described the loss to the Monaghan outfit as a lesson that his team can learn from.

“They were physically stronger, you could argue that they were better prepared at this stage and they came with a bit between their teeth.

“We beat them last year and they were very focused this year, I think they’ve added to their coaching this year too.

“I was very impressed with them and everything they did. They were really strong in the tackle, they really emphasised that the whole day.”

“From our point of view, the point of our team is to learn those lessons and to go into this competition, see the level and see it’s a stepping stone to a little bit more.

“We’re disappointed with the result but that’s part of the reason behind entering the competition, to learn those lessons.”

Up next for the Southwest Donegal side is a meeting with the Abbey Vocational School this Friday night in an intriguing local derby.

The Abbey Vocational School were successful in their first group outing against St Michael’s Enniskillen, running out nine-point winners at Tir Conaill Park in Donegal Town.

The Donegal Town school enjoyed a run to the MacRory Cup Final last term in their first year in the competition, having won the MacLarnon Cup at the beginning of 2024.

The side managed by Pauric O’Donnell have an abundance of talent amongst their ranks, with a number of them having Ulster club medals in their back pockets through their success for Four Masters.

Conor Gallagher – McCahill is a real threat for the Abbey Vocational School as well as Thomas Lenihan, who was recently named Man of the Match in the Minor Championship Final by the Donegal News.

Tomas Carr is also an influential figure around the middle third, while Cian Gavigan and Eoghan O’Neill help to keep things solid from a defensive point of view.

Speaking ahead of the meeting, Murrin piled praise on the Abbey Vocational School players for all that they have achieved in recent years.

“They were better than us last year. Both inside and outside of the school, that group of players deserve so much credit for what they’ve achieved at underage level.

“They’re one of the greatest underage success stories that we’ve ever had in the county nevermind the last few years.

“What they have achieved is just incredible at Ulster level and then MacRory level, it’s just really top notch.

“This is a team that’s going to bring huge quality, huge discipline and they know what they’re about. Even the lesser known players in that team have huge experience compared to our team.

“They’ve been in big games across Ulster at Under 16 and Under 18 level so none of this bothers them. A big game under the lights in the MacRory Cup, this is where they live.”

Friday night’s contest is a repeat of last year’s MacRory Cup semi-final where the Abbey Vocational School ran out narrow two-point winners.

With the likes of Daithi Molloy, Cathal Mac Aoidh, Danny McCready as well Shane and Gavin Sweeney within their squad, Southwest will certainly feel that they can prevail on Friday (throw-in, 7.45pm)

Murrin described the encounter as a huge task for his side however, stated that it’s one that they’re looking forward to.

“It’s a huge task for us. They were very solid in their first game against Enniskillen, quite functional and they’re a very smart side.

“We’re looking forward to it. For Southwest Donegal it’s a lovely occasion. I’m guessing it’s the first ever MacRory Cup game in South West Donegal so it’ll be nice.”