Darragh Beirne and Rio Mortimer, right, of St Colman's College Claremorris, Mayo, ahead of their side's Masita All-Ireland Post Primary Schools A Football Final against St Patrick's Maghera, Derry, during the Masita All-Ireland Post Primary Schools Finals Captains Call at Croke Park in Dublin. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile.
By John Harrington
Hogan Cup fever has hit St. Colman’s, Claremorris ahead of the Masita GAA Post Primary Schools Senior ‘A’ Final against St. Pat’s, Maghera.
Champions in 1977, this competition has always had a special place in the lore of St. Colman's and the opportunity to lift the Cup for a second time has created a real buzz throughout the school’s south Mayo hinterland.
“It's massive around the school and around the town,” says St. Colman’s joint-manger, Eoghan Collins.
“There's a lot of ex-pupils and past pupils who are really rowing in behind the lads and creating a massive atmosphere around the town.
“We're a small, tight-knit school but there's a massive tradition in the school over the years. It's very much Gaelic football driven.
“You have six clubs feeding into the school who would all have a strong footballing tradition too.
“There's Garrymore, Davitts, Claremorris, Eastern Gaels, Hollymount-Carnmore, and Mayo Gaels. There's a nice blend of different players from different clubs.”
St. Colman's, Claremorris pupils have busied themselves putting up flags and bunting ahead of the Hogan Cup Final.
There are roughly 330 pupils in St. Colman’s, so they punch above their weight as a footballing force when you consider their opponents on St. Patrick’s Day would have at least double the pick of boys of Hogan Cup age.
“Yeah, relatively small numbers, but we're blessed with the teachers we have in the school,” say Collins.
“We have two teachers over every team from first-year to junior to senior. We're reaping the benefits of what's been done from first to fifth year.
“It's not much to do with us, it's probably the development that they've done throughout the years in the school.”
St. Colman’s wouldn’t have been regarded as one of the favourites for provincial never mind All-Ireland honours at the start of their campaign, but with each game they’ve played they’ve gotten stronger and stronger.
Full-back Rio Mortimer, a son of Kenneth, and full-forward Darragh Beirne, are two potential stars in the making, but this St. Colman's side is one that's greater than the sum of their parts thanks to their work-ethic, and tactical acumen.
“We probably started really slowly in the League campaign and just developed and improved,” says Collins. “Christmas was probably the big turning point and we've gone on a run since then.
“They're started enjoying winning games and that fed in to training to get the best out of them. They're learning, theyr'e improving, and they're really enjoying it.
“We’ve been pleased with the improvement and the will to learn and will to work. They're a great bunch of lads to deal with and they always want to improve and get the best out of each other.
“We were behind in a good few games in the group stage in particular. We were five points down in our first game, we lost our second game, and since then we've been grinding wins out.
“The last game (All-Ireland semi-final victory over Coláiste Mhuire, Mullingar) wasn't pretty, we got four goals to get over the line, it just shows that they're determined to do the best they can and find a way to win.”
The St. Colman's, Claremorris players and management.
St. Pat’s, Maghera are one of the most successful schools in the history of the competition, winning it five times and reaching the final on another six occasions, and Collins is well aware they’ll be very difficult opponents.
“We've seen a bit of them. You know what you get from northern teams. They work hard, get bodies in around the ball and break at a fair pace and get up and down the pitch well.
“We just have to prepare our lads as best as possible to deal with that on the day."
So, what would it mean to everyone in the school and the clubs that feed into it if St. Colman’s could have their name stencilled onto the Hogan Cup for the first time since 1977?
“A lot of time has passed since 1977 so it would be great to win it again,” says Collins.
“It would mean everything. I don't think there will be anyone left in Claremorris on St. Patrick's Day. They've brought the parade forward and everything to get as much people up to Croke Park as possible.
“I suppose it's just about trying to get the lads to play the game that's in front of them.
“They can look back on the occasion then in months and years to come with great memories. If they don't get their best performance they mightn't look back on it as fondly, and that's what we'll be emphasising.
“Just try to get their best performance and play the game as opposed to the occasion.”
Monday, March 17
Masita GAA Post Primary Schools Hogan Cup (Senior A Football)
St. Colman’s, Claremorris v St. Patrick’s, Maghera, Croke Park, 1pm.
