Danske Bank MacRory Cup

2025 finalists have home comforts for last-16 ties

The MacRory Cup group stages were completed yesterday afternoon with an expected win for St Mary’s, Magherafelt over St Macartan’s, Monaghan in Emyvale and the pre-determined draw for the knock-out stages kicks into place next week.

Two teams have bitten the dust already and eight more will leave by the end of next week, meaning just eight will be preparing for a quarter-final in early January.

Each of the four group winners have earned a “home” tie against a team that finished in fourth place in another group, while second-placed finishers have also earned a “home” tie against a third-place finisher from another group.

Both of last year’s finalists — St Patrick’s, Maghera and Abbey Vocational from Donegal — won their group a week ago. With straight wins for each of them, they had topped their groups.

The Ulster minor football tournament in St Paul’s throws up a quarter-final tie next weekend between Four Masters and Dungiven, main feeder clubs for the schools. Hence, they and potential opponents had been notified to play their games by Tuesday.

Maghera have nominated Owenbeg for their 12.15pm throw-in on Tuesday against St Paul’s, Bessbrook, never an easy opponent. Last year, John Rafferty’s side took the then Hogan Cup winners Omagh CBS to extra-time at this point of the competition and were very unlucky to bow out.

Abbey Vocational are in the same situation as they prepare to take on Cathair Dhoire, the maiden school amalgamation who performed well in their first three games before Thursday’s heavy defeat to St Patrick’s Academy.

Although Cathair Dhoire have some excellent individual players, it would be difficult to see them making it through to a quarter-final.

The other teams to top their groups are Tyrone trio: St Patrick’s Academy and Omagh CBS. The latter will play host to Patrician, Carrickmacross, while the Academy will host the other Tír Chonaill team in the competition, Southwest Donegal.

Omagh lost their opening group game to St Patrick’s, Armagh, but again, were impressive in their three other games, while the Academy, Rannafast Cup champions two seasons ago, are now the outright favourites for the title.

Abbey CBS lost a group game to Omagh, but they were mighty impressive in the other three games, particularly a 3-16 to 0-5 rout of St Patrick’s, Armagh on Thursday evening in Burren. With home advantage they should beat St Patrick’s Cavan.

The other Newry college — St Colman’s — finished runners-up to Maghera in Group A and have home advantage against an enigmatic St Patrick’s, Armagh. The side could be a backlash from the heavy result on Thursday — but we will soon get to see if the Violet Hill boys enjoy their home patch.

Also at home are Our Lady’s, Castleblayney, opponents to Abbey Vocational in Group A. They finished a point behind neighbours St Macartan’s, Magherafelt and St Mary’s, Maghera.

The Convent only clinched second place with their result in Emyvale and will meet a tricky opponent in St Michael’s, Enniskillen.

FIXTURES

LAST 16

Abbey Vocational v Southwest Donegal -(Tuesday, December 9, Stewartstown at 4.00pm )
Abbey VS v Cathair Dhoire (Tuesday, December 9, Convoy @ 5.00pm)
Omagh CBS v Patrician, Carrickmacross (TBC)
St Patrick’s, Dungannon v Southwest Donegal (Tuesday, December 9, Stewartstown, 7.15pm)
St Patrick’s, Maghera v St Paul’s, Bessbrook (Tuesday, December 9, Owenbeg, 12.15pm)
St Joseph’s, Donaghmore (Thursday, December 11, venue TBC, 3pm)
Abbey CBS v St Patrick’s, Cavan (Friday, December 12, TBC)
St Mary’s, Magherafelt v St Michael’s, Enniskillen (TBC)
St Colman’s, Newry v St Patrick’s, Armagh (Saturday, December 13, Burren, 2pm)

QUARTER-FINALS (January 6–10)

A v 1/2
B v 3/4
C v 5/6
D v 7/8

SEMI-FINALS (January 21–24)

A v C
B v D

FINAL

Sunday, February 8 (venue TBC)

By SÉAMAS McALEENAN published in The Irish news

Finalists have home comforts for last-16