Mulholland Cup final – Preview

Danske Bank Mulholland Cup final

Lismore College v St Patrick’s, Lisburn (Wednesday, Coláiste Feirste, 10.30am)

LISMORE College are attempting to become the first team to successfully defend the Danske Bank Mulholland Cup they won with victory over St Mary’s, Limavady this time last year. Standing in their way are St Patricks, Lisburn.

The teams met in the group stages of the competition and the game finished in a draw. However as it would decide the top two places, the teams agreed to play extra-time and St Patrick’s came out winners by two points.

Whether that game will have an impact today with a trophy at stake remains to be seen.

Lismore have had close battles in both their knock-out games – beating St Joseph’s, Enniskillen by 3-6 to 2-6 in a quarter-final, and then Lumen Christi, Derry by 3-9 to 0-16 at the semi-final stage.

In those games, goalkeeper Liam Connolly was the hero with several brilliant saves, while the driving forces in midfield and going forward were Odhran McCann, Benas Petronis and Patrick McKeown, who play for Lurgan area clubs Sarsfields, Clann na Gael and Wolfe Tones respectively.

This group of players from St Patrick’s won Corn Cuchullain last May and probably surprised themselves by moving up a grade and remaining unbeaten.

After topping the qualification group they overcame two Donegal teams in the knock-out stages – Gairmscoil Cú Uladh and Coláiste Ailigh, Letterkenny – with Aldergrove clubmen Dara Campbell, the team captain, and Eoin Morris prominent alongside Christopher McGarry from Glenavy and Joseph McMahon from the local St Patrick’s in Lisburn.

Both teams have deserved to reach the final and both have a huge incentive to win, one team going for back-to-back titles and the other for a first title at this level. Which has the greater momentum? That will become clear this morning.

By Liam Maguire Published in The Irish News February 04, 2025