By Matthew Wilson
St Eunan’s College manager Peter Devine is expecting a tough battle this Thursday as his side bid to win their first MacLarnon Cup title in 12 years when they face Aquinas Grammar School.
The Letterkenny school secured their progression to the MacLarnon Cup decider courtesy of a fine seven-point win over Holy Trinity, Cookstown in the last four at O’Donnell Park.
It was a big occasion for Devine’s youthful side but they showed experience beyond their years to get over the line and book their spot in the showpiece which he was delighted with.
“Yeah, they performed really well. Sometimes you have to remember, that was a huge game and we’re dealing with lads that are 16,17 and 18-years-old. Sometimes you don’t know how they might react to these big games when there’s a big crowd and they’re not used to it.
“But they performed really well and we’re just delighted to be in a MacLarnon Cup Final.”
This Thursday’s MacLarnon Cup decider will be the school’s first appearance in the final since 2018 where they suffered defeat following a replay.
The St Eunan’s College boss and his management gathered the group of players when the school year commenced back in September and they felt that they had an opportunity to go far in the competition.
They’ve all worked hard and bought into the project and they’re certainly reaping the rewards for their commitment to date.
“The first day that we met up was the first week that we returned to school. We said it as a group that there is a good team here to really go after this.
“We know how difficult this competition is. I think we’ve only won it four times in our 120 years in school history. They’re not easily won but we knew that if we all committed to it and really went after it that we wouldn’t be far away and that’s proving correct so far.”
Devine and his management team have done a brilliant job with the squad so far. He’s been blessed with a large crop of players to choose from who are all steering in the one direction and helping to drive standards which is a big asset to their ambitions.
“It’s unbelievable. We train some mornings before school at 7am and we have over forty lads at the training. The reality is that some of those lads haven’t seen minutes and they probably aren’t going to.
“But they’re driving the standards and pushing lads on the pitch and it’s great.”
There’s players from seven different GAA clubs from the local area involved in this MacLarnon Cup squad but once they put on that St Eunan’s College jersey, they’re all fighting for the one collective goal which Devine continued by stating is ‘the magic of school football’.
“That is the magic of school football. These boys when they leave next year and the fifth years when they leave in two years time, the reality is that they probably won’t be playing with these lads again and that’s the magic of school.
“You’re playing with clubs from your local area and I know when you leave school then, these are the lads that might be looking to take the heads off each other at club football but with school football it’s great.”
Following their brilliant campaign to date, the only thing remaining in the way of St Eunan’s College getting their hands on the MacLarnon Cup is Aquinas Grammar School this Thursday.
The pair met in the group stage of the competition back in November, with the Sentry Hill side picking up the win courtesy of a fine 13-point victory.
However, Devine feels that the margin of victory flattered his side on that occasion and feels that the Belfast school are now a different animal to the one that previously faced.
“We got a look at them now a couple of times, they’re a serious outfit. I’ve no doubt that it will be a very difficult game and we’re going to need to bring our best performance this year if we want to win it. They’re going to take some stopping.
“They’re a completely different team. I was lucky enough to see them in the semi-final and that’s going to have absolutely no bearing on the final whatsoever.
“That group game was a lot closer than the scoreline suggests. I think we were four points up at half-time and they kicked the next two-pointer in the second-half but it was in the last five minutes that we managed to push on. They’re a completely different outfit to that day that we played them.”
