GAA: Devlin looks ahead to final after holders see off neighbours Maghera

By Odhrán Crumley

TWELVE months ago no one outside of the camp and the school believed that Magherafelt could reach the holy grail and become MacRory cup champions.

Ronan Devlin was amongst the men installing that belief. Now he is ‘delighted’ to be back in the final.

“It’s excellent, almost unbelievable. There is a group here that believed it but who would have thought that we could do two in a row, it’s excellent to be in that position.”

Beating Maghera may have held special importance for the players but for Devlin getting over the line is all that matter regardless of the opponent.

“Maybe not sweeter, they’ve lost a few times to this team through the years. For the boys maybe they felt it was unfinished business, they wanted to win and to us it was a semi-final and all we were looking to do was win it.

"I didn’t care who we were playing or who we play as long as we win, it probably means more to the boys but to me it was an opponent.”

Magherafelt’s counterattacking and runners from deep cast the sword to Maghera’s chances. “We do work on that, St.Pat’s are excellent man to man so we thought to beat them man for man you probably have to run off the shoulder so we worked a bit on that definitely. We have got strong runners and we are blessed with good footballers.”

When asked if he had a message for his players ahead of the final his message was simple but effective, “win it!”

Magherafelt will face St Ronan's Lurgan in the final on Monday, March 19, after Derry U20 football manager Mickey Donnelly steered the Armagh school to an historic first final.

The MacRory Cup winners will play the Munster champions this season.  The Corn Uí Mhuirí final between Pobal Scoil Chorcha Dhuibhne and Tralee CBS was postponed last week.

For full coverage from Sunday's pulsating semi-final in Bellaghy, get your copy of this week's County Derry Post.