GAA - St Mary's Magherafelt crave elusive first MacRory title.

St Mary’s Magherafelt v St Colman’s Newry Friday 1.00 – The Athletic Grounds Referee: Martin McNally IF St Mary’s Magherafelt are to land the biggest prize in Ulster College football on Friday, they will have to topple the ultimate kingpins – St Colman’s Newry.  The MacRory title has been brought back to the Violet Hill College on 19 occasions, the last of which was in 2011 as part of back-to-back Hogan Cup triumphs. St Mary’s have played in two finals, losing both to Derry rivals St Patrick’s Maghera, the most recent in 2003 in Casement Park.  In 1996 St Patrick’s beat Magherafelt in Coalisland to complete a three-in-a-row.  A certain Kevin Brady was a substitute that day (for Maghera)  and now returns to final day on Friday as manager of Magherafelt. “It’s absolutely tremendous, it’s only our third MacRory Final, our first in 14 years so it’s a massive deal,” commented Brady after the semi-final replay.  “We’ll let the boys take the plaudits and then we’ll refocus and look forward to the final. “That was Maghera’s day then (1996) and I am hoping it is The Convent’s day now.  It is definitely, it has been a long time coming.” After a mediocre league campaign, St Mary’s Magherafelt have picked up momentum and with Kevin Small back after injury they beat St Michael’s Enniskillen in the play-off at the end of January. Game by game, St Mary’s have built on their big game experience in the MacRory business end.  Despite not picking up any title down through the school, the year 14 boys reached the Rannafast Final.  The younger crop were beaten in D’Alton and Corn an Óg Finals – so there is ‘a decent pedigree’ across the squad. Lissan’s Kevin McWilliams and Peter Tohill of Magherafelt are out with long term injuries.  Kevin Brady has had to plan without key defenders James Crawford and Giuseppe Lupari. Crawford was named on the QUB future stars selection, showing his promise, but the 17-year-old Lavey player is only back in light training now after a cruciate injury.  Lupari tore cartilage in his knee playing rugby and was back in action this season but broke down again during a circuit session. DEFENSIVE RESHUFFLE Rather than being as huge setback, other players have stepped up to the mark.  Declan Cassidy, who has played a lot of football in attack, has been a revelation at wing back.  Ardboe’s Conall Devlin has struck up an understanding with ‘keeper Odhrán Lynch.  Lynch himself is a forward, but with the changing face of football Lynch’s kick-outs have been utilised and he has also saved two penalties. Conor McCluskey was Derry minors’ marquee defender last season and despite missing part of the season with injury,  ‘Clucky’ is back in the fold.  Alongside Rossa colleague Simon McErlain, they negated the twin threat of Shea Loye and Liam Kerr in the Bessbrook replay. Like Devlin and Declan Cassidy, corner back Mattie Loughran is comfortable on the ball and likes to get forward.  Depending on the shape of St Colman’s attack, it will determine the marking assignments when Kevin Brady, John McElhone and Ronan Devlin put their final plans in place. The Kelly brothers from Moneyglass – Sean and Eamon, complete the defensive until, where Creggan’s Jamie McCann has also featured. At midfield Kealan McCann and 16-year-old Tiarnach Donaghy provide the presence at midfield with Matthew Rogers on standby, like he was in the last quarter of the semi-final replay. In attack, St Mary’s have Creggan duo Liam Quinn and Kevin Small leading the line.  Small kicked the final scores in the previous rounds including the winner to grab The Convent’s passport to Sunday’s final. Quinn broke his ankle playing for Antrim minors last summer but has made a full recovery to score 3-11 on the way to the final.  His passing ability has helped keep the St Mary’s attack ticking over.  Cormac Murphy plays in a free role to create the space, with top scorer Daniel Bradley playing just ahead of the inside duo. The final piece of the Magherafelt side is Kildress player Adam Connolly.  With his workrate, he is the perfect link player, with the energy to cover the ground and his turnover led to the move for Liam Quinn’s goal in the semi-final replay. REMATCH In the group game St Mary’s led St Colman’s by seven points in the closing stages but Crossmaglen starlet Rian O’Neill grabbed a draw (2-8 to 3-5) with a late penalty.  O’Neill is their leading scorer and go-to man in attack – leaving the Magherafelt selectors with a decision to make. St Ronan’s tried using the size versus size approach, with All-Star Barry McCambridge on him but I had a limited result.  Elsewhere Cian McConville, son of former Armagh player Jim, is a danger and has scored as much from play as O’Neill.  Also in the frame are Mullaghbawn’s Eoghan McDonnell, son of former Armagh manager Peter, and Aaron Gribbin. Jack McCartan’s prominence came on the scene after the second group game as an impact sub.  His goal in the play-off win over St Patrick’s Cavan saw him earn a starting berth for the quarter-final. With four attacking options to worry about Kevin Brady will ponder his options to get the best balance to his side.  Both teams will bear no resemblance from the sides who met in the league game in Garvaghy. Over Christmas, St Mary’s Magherafelt used a series of warm-up games to assess their options and get their team primed for the post-Christmas challenge. Under the Ballinderry lights, their season changed in the quarter-final against Omagh.  After a drubbing at the hands off ‘The Brothers’ in the group stages, Magherafelt upset the odds to knock the Tyrone school out.  In the process the self-belief fuelled their championship run. On Friday it won’t be the formbook, but rather the history books against St Mary’s.  The latest crop of St Colman’s pupils are aiming to follow the tradition and be the 20^th team to get their victorious team photo ‘on the wall’ of the corridors on the Violet Hill. On paper, there won’t be the kick of a ball in it on Friday and belief from the Omagh game will be a useful ally for Kevin Brady’s side.  The tussles with Bessbrook indicate a team prepared to keep going to the well.  St Mary’s need to create their piece of history.  It’s time.