An Armagh school has lifted not one but two Ulster titles following finals held at the end of last week, with one cup representing a first in school history!
St Patrick’s Grammar School yesterday (Monday 19) celebrated “amazing men and wonderful school ambassadors” with a standing ovation in the school corridors, as their Year 11 hurling and U16 basketball teams paraded through with their new silverware.
The Year 11 hurlers’ success made history for the school in securing the Leopold Cup by defeating arch rivals St Malachy’s Belfast in a head-to-head game at MUSA Cookstown on Friday (January 16).
It was the school’s third Ulster Final in three consecutive years… and third time, they say, is the charm!
Speaking to Armagh I following their monumental win, proud as punch PE Teacher and hurling coach, Mr Devlin said: “Two years ago St Malachy’s beat them and then last year Keady High School beat them. This year, they sort of avenged both of those defeats. They beat Keady High School by nine points in the group stages and then they took on St Malachy’s then in the final… so third attempt and they won!”
Giving a brief match synopsis, he added: “They played some brilliant hurling in the first half. They were four up at half time and scored 14 points in the first half. They had a set back in the second half and conceded a goal and the game went back level. Then, with about 15 mins to go, they saw out the game and scored 1-4 without reply to win the game by the seven points.”
Mr Devlin said the atmosphere at the close of the game was “unbelievable” aided by massive support from the school, teachers and parents.
He said: “It was hotly contested, a very physical game but a brilliant exhibition of skill and commitment from St Patrick’s.”
The team is to be equally admired for their commitment and dedication to the sport which Mr Devlin accredits entirely to the players, adding: “To be honest, we massively punch above our weight. We don’t have a massive pick of hurling players. Most of them come from Cú Chulainn’s and we have a number of children on the team who don’t play hurling for a club, they play football and then hurling in school only.
“That is particularly pleasing as well and going up against a school where hurling is the first sport in that county, whereas it would be the second sport here in Armagh, is very pleasing.
“They have been training since September and actually trained over the Christmas holidays… and that was player driven. That wasn’t us. They wanted to do that. Why they have achieved what they have achieved is because of the level of work they have put in themselves.”
The school is represented by players from Cú Chulainn’s, Armagh, Keady Lamh Dhearg, Dúiche Neill, Pearse Óg, Ballyhegan Davitts, Armagh Harps, Sean Treacy’s and St Malachy’s, Portadown.
A few weeks ago on December 12, the basketball team went into their Ulster Final against Rathmore Grammar, Belfast… where they too emerged victorious.
Many of the basketball players also belong to the hurling team and the double victory will undoubtedly be forever carved into their memories of school life.
Much like Mr Devlin, their beaming basketball coach, Mr McGleenan said the success belongs to the players. Their attitude, commitment and perseverance has won out and they deserve every bit of the associated glory.
Adding some context to their incredible achievement he said: “The basketballers are hurlers and play Gaelic too, so basketball is their third sport and they love it.
“The basketball programme has been resurrected this last seven years. These guys, presently, won the second year Ulster Final and fourth year Ulster Final and they went to the All Irelands which was in Limerick.”
This year the play offs were hosted at the Harps club in Armagh and coach McGleenan says the game has come on “exponentially” in the last seven years.
Likewise, the young team has grown into the sport, going well beyond simply holding their own against much more experienced basketball-playing schools.
Mr McGleenan explained that many of the schools they play against have a much heavier focus on basketball as a primary sport… with the level St Patrick’s are now playing at he says “we are in the business of overachievement doing what they are doing.”
“It’s an unbelievable achievement that these guys are hurlers and Gaelic football players who play basketball as their third sport,” he said. “The hurling and football training stands to them massively for their basketball game. The hand eye coordination, their speed of thought and speed of play in basketball actually reinforces the skills of hurling and Gaelic football too. It’s the one sport that really crosses over any range of sports.”
Of the team’s attitude, he continued: They love it. They come with a real freedom of learning and willingness to play. They are great lads to coach and work with.
“When you take it from first year they never picked up a basketball before walking into school to be now double Ulster Champions within that period of time, for me is phenomenal, but it’s a testament to the character of the children and how much they love playing sport.
“They haven’t been won handy. Last year Rathmore beat them by 15 or 16 points, for these guys to react in the way that they did is a reflection on Conor’s [Mr Devlin] final week as well in the second half when St Malachy’s were totally in the ascendancy.
“Those lads stood their ground and said, ‘not today’. It’s a testament to the leadership of those lads and how they have developed those young men.
“Most importantly we see it in their academics and how they conduct themselves through school. That the discipline and commitment that they display on the sports field is reflective in how they conduct themselves in school.”
